Number of flood victims in Sabah rise
Published on: Thursday, February 02, 2023
By:
Jimmy Goh, Johan Aziz, Jinius Pandakin, Ahmad Apong, Winnie Kasmir, Azmie Lim
Families being evacuated in Beluran.
Kota Kinabalu: The number of flood victims in Johor and Sabah rose slightly Wednesday to 599 from 183 families, who are being housed at 13 centres in three districts, compared with 556 from 165 families last night.The Sabah disaster management committee said Telupid has the highest number of victims, with 443 from 131 families evacuated to nine relief centres.
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“A total of 111 people from 40 families were moved to three centres in Paitan, while 45 people from 12 families are taking shelter at a centre in Lahad Datu,” it said.
The number of evacuees is expected to increase in Telupid, and remain unchanged in Paitan and Lahad Datu.
Several hours of incessant rain since noon Wednesday resulted in several low-lying areas in the State Capital as well as Penampang being flooded. Among the affected areas in the city were Taman Lido and Kolombong, while in Penampang they included Donggongon Town and the usual flood-prone areas of Kibabaig, and Minintod.
Heavy rain started at 4pm, causing water to rise by 5pm. As of 6pm, the water started showing signs of receding.
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A parent in Taman Cantek who was stranded on his way home had to resort to calling the Fire and Rescue Department for help in rescuing his children who were stranded alone at home.
In KENINGAU, 112 flood victims in Kg Mempulut were moved to the temporary evacuation centre at Kg Membulu hall and the homes of close relatives, Wednesday. They are from 19 families that have been trapped in the village. The District Fire and Rescue Station received a call at 1.05 am and a total of 10 members led by Operation Commander Norhasrita Abdul Manan were dispatched to the location with machinery.
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Other agencies that were also involved in the operation were the Police with two members and the Malaysian Defense Force (APM) with five members.
In BEAUFORT, residents in low-lying areas here have been reminded to evacuate immediately if instructed to do so.
Refusal to evacuate until the last moment is risky not only for those affected but also for the rescue team. Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Ruslan Muharam urged the Village Development and Security Committee (JPKK) to take an aggressive role to help ensure the safety of the people.
“Of course they can also call the People’s Development Unit (UPPM) or the State Assemblyman Office or the District Office to assist,” he said.
Fifty six victims were evacuated to the Temporary Transfer Centre (PPS) at Dewan Kg Suasa at 1.16 pm on Wednesday.
Head of Fire and Rescue Station Muhammad Hasbullah Nenggok said this was carried out as the flood had risen in Kg Suasa.
Firefighters received an emergency call to evacuate all 56 victims consisting of 14 adult women, 7 adult men, 2 elderly men, 3 elderly women, 16 boys, 13 girls, and one baby girl.
Muhammad Hasbullah reminded the residents of Kg Suasa to be careful during the flood and not to wade through the flood so that they could avoid any possibility of chancing on poisonous reptiles, including crocodiles.
“Keep all your important documents in a safe place, don’t get them wet, and don’t allow your children to play in the flood water,” he advised.
He urged residents to move immediately if they were instructed to do so, and avoid procrastination as they had many other victims to attend to.
“Please contact Beaufort Fire Station Chief Mohamad Hasbullah at 0138968796 or 087212025 for any emergency “, he said.
In TELUPID, nine relief centres were opened as shelters for 130 families comprised 455 individuals as of 4pm on Wednesday.
The authority had also open another one new relief centre which is at Masjid Kampung Nangoh as alternative to the eight other relief centres namely, the hall of Kg Bauto, Kg Kiabau, Kg Rancangan Nangoh, Kg Bakong- Bakong, Kg Bambangan, Kg Pinunuakan, Kg Maau and old mosque of Kg Gana Jati.
In Paitan, 44 families comprising 122 people were taking shelter at three relief centres namely at hall of SMK Pamol, JPKK chairman house and Paitan community centre.
Volunteers are urged to join the mass cleaning up activity (kesukarelawan pasca banjir) in the district.
Mooted by the Telupid District Youth Council, the activity would focus on assisting flood victims to clean their houses, village community buildings, schools and any affected areas.
For the mission, the volunteer team also hope for the generous public to contribute food, mineral water and cleaning tools such as pails, detergents, hose, mop and brooms.
Any contribution can be handed over to youth representative of each respective village to mobilise the activity.
The activity started since yesterday (1 February) for Taviu area and the cleaning would be carried at Nangoh and Sapi area as soon as the water level subsided.
It is hoped the volunteering mission can ease the burden of the victims. For enquiries contact Nuel (010-9619066), Shara (014-9191263), Dora (016-8490274) or Kevin (019-5865121).
In BELURAN, the Fire and Rescue Department brought out 24 victims who were stranded in two separate locations.
Beluran Fire and Rescue Department PPgB Edoen Machael said they received the first call at 7am on Jan. 31 from Kg Perancangan Sapi Nangoh.
The rescuers were mobilised to the area and brought out 12 victims. Victims were then assisted to seek shelter at the relief center of Perancangan Biru-Biru.
As for the second rescue operation, they received a call at 12.15pm the same day from Kg Terasak where another 12 sought to seek shelter at the relief centre at Masjid Nangoh.
Villagers were reminded to stay vigilant and call the authority for assistance.
In LAHAD DATU, Segama Community Development Leader Mizma Appehdullah said efforts to provide necessities for flood victims have been carried out by the Segama Community Development Leaders Unit (UPPM) together with the District Disaster Operations Control Centre (PKOB).
Mizma said UPPM Segama and Lahad Datu PKOB had been sending food baskets to families stranded in Kg Lituk Pulau, Kg Sepadulang, Batu 8 and nearby areas since Saturday.
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