Risking lives daily crossing river
Published on: Wednesday, April 03, 2024
By: Clarence Dol
The condition of the suspension bridge that residents claim will collapse any time if not repaired. Right: A pregnant woman and her husband crossing the Ligawu river.
RANAU: Residents in seven villages in the Paginatan area want the suspension bridge that was damaged due to flooding in mid-January repaired immediately.
The bridge, which is about 100 meters long, needs to be rebuilt or at least repaired for the convenience of the residents every day, including to make it easier for students to go to school.
ADVERTISEMENT
A resident of Kg Lungkidau who declined to be identified said about 5,000 residents from seven villages, namely Kampung Paginatan, Lungkidau, Toporo, Bunakon, Torikon, Soborong and part of Kampung Kigiwit, rely on the bridge to cross the Liwagu river.
She said the suspension bridge became the main route for residents to Pekan Ranau, the Paginatan Health Clinic and for students to go to school, as well as a route to transport agricultural produce after the concrete bridge collapsed a few years ago.
She said the suspension bridge is now tilting and it is feared may collapse any moment and lives are at stake.
“Therefore, before anything happens, the parties concerned must take action,” she said.
ADVERTISEMENT
She said often villagers, including an eight-month pregnant mother, had to wade through the river to get across because they did not dare to use the tilting suspension bridge.
“Fortunately, the water level of the Liwagu river is currently shallow due to the drought and does not flow fast.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Otherwise, how can the pregnant mother cross the river to get treatment at the clinic or deal in the town?” she asked.
She urged elected representatives of the Paginatan state and Ranau parliamentary seat to get allocations to rebuild the concrete bridge across Sungai Liwagu to Kg Lungkidau which collapsed in 2022.
“Or don’t ask for votes when it’s election time.”
The 133-metre long concrete bridge was built in September 2016 but collapsed in January 2022. No reason was known as to how the bridge could collapse so easily.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
