Sabah placed on floods alert
Published on: Saturday, January 03, 2015
SANDAKAN:
ADVERTISEMENT
All district officers in the State have been ordered to be prepared for floods.Their main focus should be on helping flood victims and evacuating them to relief centres should the need arise, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman.Musa said he had asked State Secretary Tan Sri Sukarti Wakiman, who is Chairman of the State Disaster Relief Committee, to monitor the preparations in all the districts. "All state and federal government agencies should cooperate in providing assistance to the flood victims," he said after presenting National Dual Training System (NDTS) and 1Azam certificates here.In KOTA BELUD, a total of 141 families comprising 494 people were evacuated to a temporary shelter in Dewan Tun Said, here, when flash floods hit low-lying areas in 14 villages, Friday.
ADVERTISEMENT
State Fire and Rescue Department Public Relations Officer Mohd Affendy K. Ramin said the water-level reading was 5.55 meters at 1.37pm and still rising at press time.
ADVERTISEMENT
The villages involved were Kg Rangalau, Kg Kota Belud, Kg Lebak Engad, Kg Sembirai, Kg Taun Gusi Kerajangan, Kg Sadok-Sadok, Kg Tg Pasir Labuan, Kg Menuggui, Kg Labuan, Kg Lebak Moyoh, Kg Linau, Kg Lentigi, Kg Pengkalan Abai and Kg Wakap.As at 5.30pm, a total of 141 families comprising 39 men, 164 women, 118 boys, 145 girls, 17 baby boys and 11 baby girls were evacuated. Some 15 personnel from the Kota Belud Fire and Rescue Department led by its Operations Chief Faizal Wahid responded to a distress call at about 7.12am. There to assist were personnel from the Civil Defence Department who are still monitoring the situation at press time. A villager who declined to be named hoped the Kota Belud Municipal Council as well as contractors involved in the construction of a grand stand at the town padang would look into ensuring a proper drainage system. Meanwhile a Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) spokesperson said they activated their SESB Operations Room to monitor the power supply status particularly in flooded areas in the district. He said as at 5.22pm, there was still no need for emergency power supply cut off due to the flood and that SESB would continue to monitor the situation. He said the operations room would run 24 hours a day until the situation is back to normal, adding consumers may contact SESB at 15454 for more information. In LAHAD DATU, flash floods hit several areas in the district, especially in Jalan Silam. A Mile 8 resident, identified only as Nora, claimed that her village as well as other villages were affected by the flash flood at about 6am. "The torrential rain that began in the evening until the dawn caused the drains in our village to overflow and inundated our houses," she said, adding that the knee-deep water caused damaged to several houses. Nora said the residents hoped the authorities would address the problem of recurring flash floods in the area. In TAWAU, several villages were also hit by flash floods due to non-stop rain since Thursday. Among villages involved were Kg Sungai Gading, Kg Wakuba, Kg Kuala Apas and Kg Rancangan Baru in Balung as well as Kg Jagung in Merotai. Four houses in Kg Sungai Gading along Jalan Apas were hit by water-level 7.5 foot deep, forcing its 16 tenants to be evacuated to the house of the Village Chief Majid Ali. Majid said the flood victims comprised three men, three women, six boys and six girls, including eight couples. It was learnt that the village has about 786 families. Also affected was SK Batu 22 in Kg Rancangan Balung and SK Wakuba which is located near the multipurpose hall next to the Tabika Kemas. Tawau Fire and Rescue Deputy Chief Faisal Ahmad who led the rescue operation said they received a distress call at about 8.33am. They were also assisted by personnel from the Civil Defense Department. Meanwhile, Mile 24 Jalan Apas-Balung which is the main road linking Tawau-Semporna-Kota Kinabalu was also hit by flash floods. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
