Worst flooding in 10 years
Published on: Friday, January 27, 2023
By:
Ahmad Apong, Jinius Pandakin, Patimang Abdul Ghani, Azmie Lim
Flood situation in Kota Marudu.
Kota Kinabalu: Flash floods described as the worst in 10 years affected many coastal low-lying areas from Sipitang to Lahad Datu following steady rain since Wednesday afternoon.The number of flood evacuees increased sharply to 6,313 compared to 1,421 Wednesday. A total of 26 relief centres were opened in five districts in the state.
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The State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN) Secretariat in a statement said Kota Marudu had the most number of evacuees at 4,784 from 1,731 families placed in 11 relief centres, while 761 people (203 families) were moved to three relief centres in Kudat.
Some 406 people from 162 families have been evacuated to four relief centres in Pitas, 344 (88 families) to seven centres in Paitan while 18 (three families) to a centre at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Terusan in Lahad Datu, which is the latest district to be hit by the floods.
According to the statement, 153 people from 50 families who were previously evacuated to Rumah Ketua Kampung Sinasak Batu and Surau Kampung Sibuang were ordered to move to Sekolah Kebangsaan Pekan 2 due to the risk of being hit by floods.
Flood situation in Sipitang.
Sipitang Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah Head Pius Ganang said villages around Sungai Muaya, Sungai Mengalong and Sungai Kelangsat were among affected. Residents, particularly in Kg Muaya and Kg Kelangsat, were advised to be ready to evacuate.
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“Those in low-lying areas should be cautious because the river water level is still rising,” he said, adding that floodwaters in Kg Kelangsat have reached one metre in depth.
Residents were told to secure their valuables in a safe place as floodwaters began to penetrate their homes.
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The floods also impacted villages in low-lying areas in Pantai and Sindumin sub-districts.
The rising water level in Sungai Mengalong flooded Kg Mesapol Lama, while road users in Kg Melalia were urged to be alert as the roads were littered with pebbles carried in by flood waters.
Water began to rise around 5pm on Wednesday, according to Kg Kelangsat Village Head Akup Malaing.
Sipitang Fire and Rescue Station Chief Calvin Joe Jeafery said a man, a woman, and a girl were moved to safer ground after their house in Kg Pantai was swamped by floodwaters, trapping them.
In BEAUFORT, the Water Department shut off supply for the district, Thursday, due to river turbidity.
District Water Engineer Alchemy Lobo October Sabin said clean-up efforts are in motion but water supply would remain disrupted until the river runs clear.
Alchemy hoped the public are able to store enough water and for a speedy recovery.
“We apologise and it is unintentional. Users are urged to remain patient throughout the process,” he said.
In KOTA MARUDU, the police’s Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Division carried out two simultaneous operations namely OP Selamat 19 and OP Banjir 2023, Thursday.
This followed continuous torrents and high tide in the river’s downstream which caused major floods here and in Pitas since Wednesday.
Kota Marudu District Police Chief, Superintendent Zairolnizal Ishak said continuous monitoring is carried out on the main roads that are at risk of flooding.
“The (flood) disaster this time has affected at least 31 villages involving up to 5,581 victims who were transferred to temporary shelters (PPS).”
In KUDAT, Member of Parliament Datuk Verdon Bahanda described the flood situation in Pitas as the worst in more than 10 years.
Some 31 villages were affected while 1,133 victims consisting of 423 heads of households were transferred to the Temporary Flood Shelter since Wednesday.
He was made to understand that are still flood victims trapped in inaccessible areas with roads cut off.
In LAHAD DATU, 18 people including two babies were evacuated to a relief centre in SMK Terusan as flood hit Kg Manau on Wednesday night.
Villagers said this was the worst flood since 2006 as the water rose suddenly causing the residents unable to evacuate. Lahad Datu APM Officer, Lt. (PA) Asby Mohd Anwar said, continuous rain also caused flooding at Kg Sepagaya.
He said APM assigned eight personnel in rescue and evacuation operations.
Former Kampung Sepagaya village head Nasir Tunggara, 48, said though people living in the area had anticipated the floods by moving their belongings to higher ground, they did not expect it to be worse.
“My house is built on high stilts but the water level was so high that it was just 8 inches from entering my house. This is the third time our village has been hit by floods.
A Temporary Flood Relief (PPS) centre was opened at 11pm Wednesday at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Terusan and as of Thursday morning, 18 victims from three families had been evacuated to the centre.
Nasir hoped the government would widen and deepen Sungai Sepagaya to prevent the river from overflowing and causing floods in the surrounding areas.
“Villagers here have often voiced their opinion to leaders in the area but due to changes in the political circle, the plight of the villagers is often ignored. Therefore, I and the villagers here hope the project can be carried out soon and the roads upgraded as well,” said Nasir.
A victim from Kg Manau Batu 7, Dony Diansoy, 46, said when the villages were affected by floods in the past, the water level was normally knee deep but yesterday’s water level rose above the waist level.
“We are very concerned because there are many children in the villages and their safety is very important. Yesterday, fortunately officers from the Fire and Rescue Department and police arrived in time to rescue us and took us safely to the PPS,” he said when met at the Dewan SMK Terusan.
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