Floods: 5,000 students affected by school closures in four Sabah districts

KOTA KINABALU: Thousands of primary and secondary school students and teachers are affected by the closure of 10 schools following continuous rain that caused flooding in four west coast districts of Sabah.

State Education director Datuk Raisin Saidin said six schools have been ordered to close in Penampang, namely SK Sugud, SM St Michael, SK St Theresa Inobong, SK Kibabaig, SK St Joseph and SJKC Yue Min.

Other schools that had to close are SK Kelatuan in Papar, Sipitang’s SJKC Sin Boon Sindumin, and SK Kauluan and SJKC Chung Hwa Tenghilan in Tuaran.

“A total of 5,077 students and 307 teachers are affected by the school closures,” he said on Monday (July 1).

The flood situation in Tuaran and Penampang is showing signs of improvement, with declining water levels and controlled conditions in several flood-prone areas.

Penampang district was hit the worst by floods that followed continuous heavy rain since noon on Sunday (June 30).

It was reported that a 37-year-old woman died after being swept away in Penampang late Sunday night.

Her body was found at 8am on Monday about 500m from where she was last seen.

It was also reported on Monday morning that the number of flood evacuees in Penampang had risen to 112 people from 40 families compared to 78 people from 28 families the night before.