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Kota Kinabalu: Five villages in Kudat, including the town area, were hit by flash floods following continuous heavy rain since Monday morning, the Civil Defence Force (APM) said.The affected villages are Kampung Landung Ayang, Kampung Sri Aman, Kampung Air, Kampung Tanjung Kapor and Kampung Dampirit. In a statement Monday, the APM said heavy rain also caused several main roads in Kudat to be flooded, including Jalan Tamalang, Jalan Airport and the roads leading to the city centre. All of them are now not accessible to small vehicles.

The bad weather also caused landslides and trees to be uprooted.

“Monitoring made by various agencies such as the Fire and Rescue Department, police and Kudat APM found that the water level is increasing. Personnel on duty have advised villagers to monitor weather conditions and the water level, and to evacuate to a safer place, if needed. “So far, 44 victims were evacuated to the relief centre at Sekolah Kebangsaan Tun Mustapha,” it said.

According to APM, Sungai Rampai in Kamping Korina was at the warning level of 2.0 metres as of 9.30am. Former Senator Datuk Naomi Chong said her brother’s textile shop along Little Street was under several feet of water, with power failure.

“The kitchen at the back of the shop was also partially submerged. This was the result of incessant rain from 1am on Monday until afternoon,” she said.

Fortunately, she said, part of the merchandise was unaffected as it had been placed at a raised level.

Businesswoman Siew Kim, who runs a coffeeshop below Ria Hotel, said she had to turn back home upon reaching the town at 6am as she could not gain access to the premises.

Part of the Kudat town hit by flash floods.

“My workshop next to my home was flooded as early as 4am as water rushed down from the hillside behind and flowed into the kitchen and living room,” she added. Meanwhile, in SANDAKAN, continuous downpour since early Monday resulted in the closure of Kilometre (Km) 1, Jalan Buli Sim Sim, in Sandakan, due to landslide and flooding.

Sandakan district police headquarters, in a statement, said the landslide involved a nearby hill and that there were no casualties or property damage reported in the 10.45am incident.

“The road is fully closed as of now for cleaning and evaluation work for repairing purposes by the Public Works Department (PWD). “The police will continue to do control and monitoring operations at the scene with PWD to prevent any untoward incidents,” the statement read.

Sandakan Civil Defence Force (APM), in a separate statement, said three areas in the district are currently being monitored for water levels, at Batu 7, Jalan Buli Sim Sim and around Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Anib following continuous rain since 5am, Monday.

APM said there is no need for temporary relief centres to be opened as yet but APM and the relevant agencies are always ready to provide assistance.

The Malaysian Meteorolgical Department (MetMalaysia) has issued bad weather warning with heavy rains in Sandakan from Monday until today (Tuesday).

Meanwhile, in BEAUFORT, several villages, including Kg Bambangan, Kg Sinoko, Kg Pusak, Kg Simpang and Kg Poring were flooded following incessant rain.

More than 15 families involving 35 people were relocated to higher grounds for their safety. A woman who suffered miscarriage was sent to the Beaufort Hospital.