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KOTA KINABALU – Penampang folks living near flood-prone areas have been urged to make arrangements to relocate during heavy rains.
Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan said ongoing flood mitigation works in Penampang and Putatan will take about six years to be fully completed.
“Unfortunately, these works will only be completed in a few years and we anticipate that the entire flood mitigation works to be fully completed in six years’ time.
“In the meantime, I urge residents living around the flood-prone areas to make plans to relocate to safer areas during the heavy rains,” he said here today.
On September 21, Kitingan had said when met at Kg Sugud, Penampang, after major flooding in the village, that rising waters will remain a regular occurence until two major projects at the Sg Moyog river and the Sg Petagas river are completed between three to six years’ time.
Towards this end, he advised residents not to build their homes near rivers and those living in low-lying areas to be wary of heightening water levels around rivers.
“The rainy season is just getting started and according to the Meteorological Department, more rain is expected before year-end.
“The weather is getting more erratic due to the effects of climate change,” he said. “We need to work together to avoid further property losses.”
Yesterday, Kitingan made a surprise visit to the Penampang Cultural Centre, where 13 families were temporarily placed, due to the flooding in the district on Sunday.
As of noon today, 61 individuals have been put up at the temporary relief centre in Putatan, 20 in Penampang, 10 in Papar and 51 in Beaufort by the Civil Defence Force. – The Vibes, October 11, 2022