KOTA KINABALU: Heavy rain over the last 48 hours triggered landslides on Mount Kinabalu in Kundasang, Ranau, some 100km from here, early Sunday (June 23).
The first incident is believed to have occurred at about 1.20am, and a mud flood on one side of the mountain occurred at 5am.
Sabah Parks director Dr Maklarin Lakim said they did not receive reports of injury from the landslide, which took place in the Ulu Sungai, Mesilau locality in the Kundasang highlands.
“It was far from the summit trail and did not involve any accident involving people or damage to infrastructure,” he said when contacted Monday (June 24).
However, it is learned that Ranau district authorities were monitoring the landslip debris that had fallen into the Mesilau river that flows into the Liwagu river where the district’s water intake and treatment plant is located.
“We are still monitoring the matter at Ulu Sungai Mesilau and its impact on the river’s flow.
“The situation is under control,” Maklarin added.
On Monday, a video of a landslide on one side of the mountain during the day surfaced on social media. The video showed what appeared to be debris and mud rushing down the mountain.
Ranau Fire and Rescue station chief Ridwan Mohd Taib said they had not received any distress calls about the incident or tremors being felt in the area since before the landslip.
“However, we are monitoring the situation after receiving the video.
“The landslide and flash mud flood have not affected the nearby village.
“There is no road access to the area, which is located under Sabah Parks’ jurisdiction, so the monitoring is done using our drone,” he said.
Meanwhile, at 8am on Monday, the number of victims evacuated to temporary shelters following a flood in the southwestern Membakut district, some 90km from here, had risen to 100 people.
Some 37 people from 17 families were moved to the centre after the flood the previous day.
A Sabah Disaster Management Committee secretariat statement said the flood victims were now staying at Dewan Selagon in Beaufort until the flood subsided.
The secretariat said continuous rain in Membakut since last Thursday (June 20) has inundated several areas with floodwaters.
So far, seven flood hotspots have been identified, including Jalan Lembah Poring, Kampung Baitam Baru, Kampung Ulu Baitam, Kampung Lampijas, Kampung Kayai, Kampung Jambatan Baru and Jalan Balai Polis.
