Flash floods hit five districts in Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: Flash floods hit five districts following nearly two days of continuous downpour that also cut off links at three major roads into Sabah’s interior.

The heavy rains also pushed water levels at the Babagon dam in Penampang to its maximum level of 130.5m with sirens being sounded to alert villagers stay away from the nearby river due to the overflow of water.

Incessant rain since Monday caused flooding in parts of the state capital including Menggatal as well as Penampang district.

Floods were also reported in parts of Beaufort as well as Tuaran district where the a low lying bridge was completely submerged by the Sungai Tamparuli for several hours.

The rains also brought traffic heading into Sabah’s interior to a halt with landslides blocking the Penampang-Tambunan trunk road.

Sabah Public Works Department director Datuk John Anthony said land slips also occurred at four locations along the Menggatal-Kokol road.

A road collapse also cut off links between the Tamparuli and Kiulu district leaving stranding about 40,000 people.

Anthony said the PWD’s road maintenance contractor was carrying out repair works on the damaged road stretches with the Tambunan and Kiulu roads expected to be passable by late Wednesday.

He said the repairs on the Kokol road were scheduled to be completed by Thursday.

Kiulu State Assemblyman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said the landslide that occurred at about 11.30pm on Tuesday affected some 40,000 people living there.

Joniston said another landslide also buried a house in Kiulu but there were no casualties as the occupants had got out of the structure in time.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said he had advised all district officers to be fully prepared for any eventuality.

“The district disaster relief committees they head must be ready to provide any assistance,” he said after chairing the weekly Cabinet meeting here.