BEAUFORT: A house in Jalan Binunuk, near the Sabah Electric Board (SEB) office and Sungai Padas, collapsed on Monday due to river bank erosion, destroying the structure as the ground gave way.
Mohammad Johawalia Kimsin said the the house belonged to a local resident but was unoccupied at the time of the incident.
“Fortunately, no one was inside the house collapsed, but all belongings inside were swept away by the strong current of Sungai Padas,” he said.
On the same day, a landslide occurred along Jalan Binunuk leading to Kampung Balibata following heavy rain in the afternoon.
A resident said that cracks and erosion had been appearing along the Sungai Padas in Jalan Binunuk, particularly after last week’s severe flooding.
“This is not the only location affected — several other areas along Sungai Padas are also showing signs of erosion, with the land just waiting to collapse,” he warned, urging road users, especially those living near the river, to remain cautious and alert.
“Residents who want to use this route should be extra careful, as there are ongoing erosion and land cracks along Jalan Binunuk and nearby areas,” he said.
The Public Works Department (PWD) is currently monitoring the erosion and has placed warning signs to alert road users.
Several agencies, including PWD engineers, the District Office, Police, Fire and Rescue Department, and the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM), have been deployed to assess the situation.
Supt Wong Leong Meng advised residents near the riverbank to evacuate if erosion worsens and avoid building houses too close to the river.
Jalan Binunuk is a critical route for residents of Kg Binunuk and Kg Balibata, as it is the only road connecting the villages to Beaufort town.
PWD is now expanding the road to the right side to provide a safer route for motorists and prevent road collapse, ensuring safety of road users.
