PITAS: A total of 223 people from 52 families in the coastal areas have been evacuated to temporary relief centres (PPS) in Pitas as the king tide phenomenon is expected to bring floods to the areas.
Sabah Disaster Management Committee secretariat, in a statement, said the victims were evacuated to the PPS at the community halls in Kampung Mempakad and in Kampung Pinggan-Pinggan, which were opened early today as s a precautionary measure.
The PPS in Kampung Mempakad currently housed 168 victims from 37 families, while 55 other people from 15 families were placed at the PPS in Kampung Pinggan-Pinggan.
“There is a king tide phenomenon occurring in Pitas which has turned several coastal areas in the district into areas vulnerable to floods,” the statement read.
Selangor, Sarawak and Sabah are the latest to be hit by floods, raising to eight the number of states affected by floods.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah, Sarawak Affairs and Special Functions) Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said seven relief centres (PPS) had been opened in these three states.
In Selangor two PPS have been opened in Petaling and Kuala Selangor districts, housing 57 people from 18 families, while in Sarawak three PPS have been opened in Bau and Kuching districts, sheltering 104 people from 28 families.
“Two PPS have been opened in Pitas, Sabah, for 222 people from 37 families,” he said in a statement. He said flood management in the affected districts in these three states was still at the first stage under the supervision of the respective district disaster management committees (JPBD).
However, Armizan said the central Disaster Operations Control Centre (PKOB), which operates round the clock, would always monitor the situation and be prepared to intervene if necessary.
“So far, the Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued seven series of continuous rainfall warnings since the start of the 2022/2023 northeast monsoon on November 7. The seventh series of warnings is still in effect and the second monsoon surge which began on December 17 is expected to last until December 26,” he said.
According to MetMalaysia, continuous rain is expected to occur in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan from Friday.
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