SIPITANG: The Sipitang Tamu ground was struck by flash floods for the second time this year Tuesday afternoon, following heavy rain and strong winds.
The flood, which occurred around the market area near the Sipitang District Council (MDS) football field, caused significant concern among vendors and residents.
Juliana Pudun, a 56-year-old vendor, said the sudden rise in water forced traders to quickly move their goods to higher ground.
“Approximately at 5pm, the water level rose rapidly, flooding the market area and surrounding low-lying villages.
“We had to lift all our goods onto tables, and some of us had to set up our blue canopies to protect our items from the strong winds.
In some areas, floodwaters reached knee height, particularly around the Murut cultural hall.
Vendors located under roofed areas were not directly affected by the flood, though they were still caught in the heavy rain.
Despite the damage to their stalls, many traders worked quickly to salvage items that could be saved.
“We lifted our books, ovens, and other goods onto tables to prevent them from getting wet,” said another vendor.
This flash flood, while not unusual during heavy rains, has raised ongoing concerns about the maintenance of the local drainage system.
One vendor noted that such flooding incidents have become a frequent occurrence in the area, primarily due to clogged drains.
“The drainage system is not cleaned often enough, which causes them to get blocked, leading to flash floods during heavy rain,” he said.
Vendors and residents urged the council to take immediate action and ensure the drains are well-maintained to prevent future floods.
“We hope that the District Council, led by MDS, will address this issue and improve the drainage system to ensure that water can flow out to the sea and prevent flash floods like this from happening again,” said another vendor.
The vendors, as well as local residents, urged Sindumin Assemblyman, Datuk Dr Yusof Yaccob and Sipitang Member of Parliament, Datuk Matbali Musah, to direct MDS to take action and improve the drainage system around the town to prevent such incidents from reccurring.
