BEAUFORT: A total of 244 flood victims from 68 families have been evacuated to temporary relief centres at Selagon and Datuk Panglima Dun Banir hall after heavy flooding hit the district on Friday evening.
Fire and Rescue Station Chief Muhammad Hasbullah Nenggok told Daily Express Saturday that the flood was more severe than the one in February. Among the evacuees are 44 adult men, 59 adult women, 28 boys, 59 girls, 14 baby boys, 29 baby girls, four elderly men and 12 elderly women.
The evacuees include two households from Kg Balibata, consisting of two men, four boys, one baby boy and an elderly woman.
In Kg Bakalau, 62 households have been affected, with 37 men, 53 women, 20 boys, 51 girls, 12 baby boys, 26 baby girls, three elderly men and 11 elderly women evacuated.
Kg Lumatai has one affected household, comprising four women, one girl and three baby girls.
In Kg Bingkul, two households were displaced, including two men, two women, two girls and one baby boy.
Kg Cina has two affected households, with three men and four boys among the evacuees.
Rescue teams were also evacuating flood victims from Kg Suasa and Kg Bangkalalak, but the total number of affected residents remained unknown.
Floodwaters have submerged Beaufort Lama, halting all business activities, including the Ramadan bazaar at Dewan Bagandang and its surrounding areas.
The situation worsened when the Pangi Hydro Dam gates were opened due to continuous heavy rain since Friday, causing Sungai Padas to rise beyond the danger level at 9.92 metres, exceeding the safety threshold of 8.70 metres.
A total of 45 villages in Klias and Lumadan state constituencies were affected, including Kg Binunuk, Kg Balibata, Simpang 4 Chan Furniture, Kg Bakalau, Kg Melalugus, Kg Melati, Kg Lumatai, Kg Mempagar, SESB Quarters, Railway Quarters, Kg Batu 58, Kg Batu 60, Kg Batu 65, Kg Jempagah, Kg Kitalabak Lumatai, Kg Laboi, Kg Bingkul, Kg Mapait, Kg Limbawang, Kg Lajau, Kg Luagan Sanginan, Kg Cina, Kg Kebulu and Kg Menanjung.
Flooding has also impacted Kg Sungkadan, Kg Batandok Lubak, Kg Lawa, Kg Lago, Kg Suasa, Kg Kangsa, Kg Berumbai, Kg Poring Lupak, Kg Lupak, Kg Bangkalalak, Kg Tuhu, Kg Selinseng, Kg Beringin, Kg Kabajang Ulu, Kg Kukup, Kg Jabang, Kg Mentulud, Kg Lupak Seberang and Kg Bukau.
Several major roads in the Klias state constituency are impassable, including Jalan Limbawang Bypass, Kg Binunuk Road, Kg Balibata Road, Simpang 4 Chan Furniture Road, Jalan Melalugus, Jalan Labui, the road in front of the new fire station, Court Road and the road to Batu 60 which was only accessible to heavy vehicles.
In Lumadan state constituency, affected roads include Kg Batandok Lubak Road, Kg Lawa Road, Kg Bangkalalak Road, Kg Lago Road, Kg Suasa Road and the road from Kg Bukau to Lumadan.
Flooding also affected several schools, including SJKJ Lian Hwa, SM St Paul’s, SM St John, Beaufort Secondary School, SK Suasa, SK Lago and SK Bukau.
The railway track is submerged, disrupting train services to Kota Kinabalu, which was scheduled to depart at 11am.
The Fire Department, police and Civil Defence Force (APM) are actively evacuating victims using rescue boats and trucks.
According to APM Captain Hazle Shah Abd Hamid, floodwaters are expected to rise in Kg Suasa as flood runoff from Beaufort town flows into the area.
In Membakut, water levels remain below the danger mark but have risen to 7.18 metres as of 11am, exceeding the critical level of 6.80 metres.
Flood-affected locations in Membakut include Kg Baitam Laut, Kg Sinoko, Kg Lampijas, Kg Kiyai, Kg Lumat and Pekan Lama to Bandau, including Kg Brunei.
Roads in Membakut that are submerged include the area in front of the police station, Kg Bandau Road and the main road connecting Beaufort and Kota Kinabalu.
A new temporary relief centre was opened at Dewan Kesenian Islam at 7am, sheltering 102 evacuees from 33 households, including 32 men, 35 women, 12 boys and 22 girls.
