KOTA KINABALU, Sept 3 — The number of flood evacuees in the state rose to 68 people from 21 families as of 4 pm today compared to 39 people from 13 families this morning.
The Sabah state disaster management secretariat announced in a statement that 53 people from 17 families were evacuated to the relief centre at Dewan DSP DUN Banir in Beaufort, while 15 people from four families were evacuated to the Dewan Mini Mesapol relief centre in Sipitang.
“A total of 60 villages in Beaufort and five in Sipitang were affected by the floods due to heavy rain on Sept 1, causing Sungai Mengalong to rise drastically.
“The river broke its banks and inundated the nearby villages…weather in Beaufort, Tenom and Membakut is now cloudy while it is still raining in Tenom,” the statement read.
The water level of rivers in Membakut and Beaufort, including Sungai Padas, were at danger level, while rivers in Tenom were at warning level.
Meanwhile, checks in Kota Kinabalu revealed several areas were hit by flash floods, including in Kolombong, Inanam, Likas, Sepanggar and Telipok, believed to be due to heavy rain since yesterday evening and rain is still persisting in these areas.
Several main roads, such as Jalan Lintas and Jalan Kolombong have also been flooded, which is causing slow-moving traffic.
Meanwhile, Sabah Assistant Works Minister Datuk Robert Tawik urged the public to be careful when on the road during heavy rain and said that the ministry was monitoring main roads in the state to ensure the safety of motorists.
He said the ministry received a report about a landslide affecting Jalan Apin-Apin Keningau in Jambatan Liau Laut, believed to have been caused by erosion following continuous rain.
“The road which is the main route from Jalan Keningau to Tambunan is inaccessible, so action will be taken soon,” he said when contacted by reporters today.
Motorists are advised to use alternative routes to Pekan Keningau from the direction of Apin-Apin and Tambunan, either through Jalan Ranggom or Kapayan heading to Jalan Magatang, he added.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency