Floods: Food aid being distributed to stranded victims in Kinabatangan, Sandakan and Beluran

KOTA KINABALU: Thanks to slightly improved weather, food aid for flood victims has started to trickle in for victims stranded in their homes in the districts of Kinabatangan, Sandakan and Beluran.

State Civil Defence Department director Sharudin Md Zain said the assistance from the state government is being distributed to some of the more severely affected areas that are accessible by vehicles.

He said they were working with various rescue agencies as well as local authorities to send food to victims who have managed to apply and ask for help.

However, food baskets for those taking shelter at temporary relief centres statewide are not available yet but daily meals and water are provided, he added.

The floods, which started from Kota Marudu district before hitting areas like Paitan, Beluran, Telupid and Pitas since Dec 31, have started to recede but 3,330 evacuees from 1,377 families still remain in the affected areas.

It has stopped raining in most areas but the alert for continuous rain is still in force for five districts, namely Telupid, Kinabatangan, Beluran, Sandakan and Kudat.

As of 4pm on Tuesday (Jan 4), four districts – Ranau, Keningau, Tambunan and Nabawan – are still experiencing continuous downpour.

Some houses including those in Pitas’ Kg Mesej Tukar have been reported damaged by landslides and mud floods.

Other places where landslides have occurred include Kampung Gas, Batu Sapi, SLDB Estate and Sukau in Sandakan; Kampung Sagaliud Seberang, Jalan Sagaliud and Kampung Warisan Jalan Bukit Garam in Kinabatangan; Kampung Saniton Laut, Jalan Saniton in Pitas, Jalan Nangoh paitan Kanibongan in Beluran; Jalan Bongkud, Jalan Stadium Ranau and Jalan Timbau-Melinsau in Ranau; as well as KM33 Jalan Tambunan in Tambunan.

There are no new reports of casualties from floods or landslides as of 4pm.