PITAS: Students sitting for the SPM exam were among those who had to wade through rising waters when floods struck Kg Masin Besar, here, on Jan. 17.
Village Chief Minsi Rumambar, 74, told Daily Express that school sessions were still ongoing on the day of the flood.
“Some had to hitch a ride on the Sabah Rubber Industry Board (LIGS) vehicle to get to school,” he said. Ten homes in the village were affected as floodwaters from the nearby river overflowed (Sungai Masin).
He also decried the lack of an evacuation centre. “Residents from the affected homes had to move in with other family members as there is no Temporary Evacuation Centres (PPS) in this area.
“The water on the main road reached waist-deep, while inside the houses, the water level was knee-high. However, this year’s flood was not as severe as previous ones.
“Our village is flooded every year, and during floods, we are essentially trapped,” he said.
Other than that, Minsi said, food aid from welfare organisations could not be delivered and residents managed to survive on their own supplies.
“We asked for help from Civil Defence Force (APM), but they could not reach us because there was one area (Pidu/Layang) that is impassable from Pitas to our village,” he said.
Kg Bitulung Village Chief, Liu Kon Sin, 53, said residents from villages surrounding SMK Pitas II, including K Dandun Laut, Salungkapit, Dandun Darat, Tutuwoon, Kibulu and others, were stranded for three days due to the overflowing Bengkoka River.
“The road to SMK Pitas II is the main access route for all these villages, the water level reached 5 to 6 feet and it was completely impassable,” he said.
“Some residents were moved to the PPS at SK Dandun due to the high flood risk in their areas.”
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