KOTA KINABALU: Bad weather in Sabah’s west coast triggered mud floods and landslides in Penampang, causing a Sabah Electricity transmission tower at Kampung Sarapung to collapse.
The incident, which occurred at 5.05pm on Saturday, disrupted the 275kV Kolopis-Segaliud line and cut power supply to Sandakan, Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, Kunak, Semporna and Beluran, affecting nearly 230,000 consumers.
Sabah Electricity Chief Executive Officer Datuk Mohd Yaakob Hj Jaafar said technical teams trekked through jungle terrain for almost seven hours before identifying the cause of the blackout at 1.03am on Sunday.
He said emergency works to restore supply were underway, including conductor bridging through the Kimanis-Segaliud line and the installation of a temporary tower, which may take between two to eight days to complete.
Yaakob expressed appreciation for the support received from the State Government, the Energy Commission of Sabah (Ecos), security agencies, Sabah Air and other departments in the recovery effort.
