RANAU: Continuous torrential rain from 5pm Wednesday caused flash flooding in several areas here which threatened the safety of residents as well as motorists.
The main road linking Kota Kinabalu and Sandakan was cut off around 10 Wednesday night after a culvert collapsed, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded.
The Public Works Department (PWD), in a statement, said the culvert failure at one kilometre from Ranau town is dangerous to drivers and impassable to any type of vehicle.
“Road users can take an alternative route through Jalan Sinarut Baru-Togudon Baru but only for small vehicles,” the statement read.
It said all road users are requested to obey instructions and safety signs to avoid accidents. The Kota Kinabalu-Sandakan Road is one of the main roads connecting the West and East coasts of the State. The collapsed culvert in Kampung Takurik that cuts off KK-Sandakan road link.
Flash floods also occurred in front of Sabindo Supermarket, SMK Mat Salleh and several other villages such as Kg Libang, Kituntul and Marakau, and surrounding areas.
The Fire and Rescue Department, in a notification, said at least five areas were affected, namely Kg Libang, Tagudon Baru, Kituntul Lama, Jalan Airport Lama and Lasing.
Ranau Fire and Rescue Chief Ridwan Mohd Taib said in Libang, a minor landslide occurred near a residential area. Similar occurrences happened in Kg Lukapon and several other areas.
In Kg Tagudon Baru, Kituntul Lama, Jalan Airport Lama and Lasing, all incidents involved rescuing of flood victims as continuous heavy rain caused an unusual volume of water to flow in normally non-risky areas.
On Thursday morning, rain continued and observations along the areas affected by the flood revealed a saddening aftermath.
Although the water level in all the areas had receded, occupants of flooded homes, offices and structures were seen busy removing mud and other deposits left behind by the floods.
Pictures and videos shared by victims as well as the public on social media garnered hundreds of comments from netizens. Traffic congestion also built up along the Lohan-Ranau road as motorists squeezed their way along the alternative route in Lasing-Tagudon Baru-Sinarut Baru-Takurik.
The narrow village road is only accessible by small and medium vehicles, and those with urgent businesses were forced to take this route while hoping the small bridge across the Takurik stream would not collapse due to unending flow of traffic.
The Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) Ranau issued a notification informing that at least 46 individuals, comprising 25 adults, 13 children and three toddlers, were rescued and placed in a temporary evacuation centre at the Ranau IPD Hall. Several areas in Ranau were hit by flash floods due to a continuous heavy rain, Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Sabah PWD Director Arman Abdul Muin said another alternative route would be opened to light vehicles, in addition to the existing alternative Kg Sinarut Baru-Kg Tagudon Baru route opened earlier.
He said the new route would go through the Sungai Takurik bridge before entering the Pekan SIB Church area.
He said works on the new route were being carried out by the concession company after consultation between the Ranau District Office and the church management as the land owner reached a mutual agreement.
“This road will later become a one-way alternative route from the East Coast, for example Sandakan. The route is expected to open at 7pm on Thursday.
“The alternative Kg Sinarut Baru-Kg Tagudon Baru route will only be used by vehicles from the direction of Kota Kinabalu only,” he told the media during a visit to the scene, Thursday.
Arman said that for heavy vehicles such as lorries, trailers, tankers and express buses, the PWD has designated Jalan Marak-Parak, Kota Marudu as an alternative route.
“Heavy vehicles are not allowed to use the Sinarut Baru-Tagudon Baru route and the SIB Pekan Church route,” he added.
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