King tide: Hundreds evacuated in Sandakan as their homes get washed away

Christmas morning: Over 60 houses were washed away by the king tide on Christmas Eve. - pics from Sandakankini Facebook page

KOTA KINABALU: Over 60 coastal houses in Sabah's east coast Sandakan were damaged or destroyed during king tides on Christmas Eve.

Hundreds of residents in the Kampung Forest area were evacuated from their homes as the king tide coupled with strong waves left some 100 over people homeless.

Civil Defence Force personnel were continuing to register victims with some 29 families, comprising 162 people being placed at temporary shelters.

The sea water began rising from about 7pm and continued till midnight with residents fleeing their homes with their valuables and personal documents.

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There were no reports of any casualties during the phenomenon.

The Civil defence force in a statement said as of 8am Sunday. 284 families, comprising 1,194 people were in relief shelters in Pitas, Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Kota Kinabalu.

Except for victims from Kota Belud who were evacuated due to floods, victims in all other affected districts were forced to flee due to the king tide phenomenon.

A king tide is an unusually high tide that can cause local flooding.

King tides occur when the orbits and alignment of the Earth, moon, and sun combine to produce the greatest tidal effects of the year.