KOTA KINABALU: A family of four was trapped for hours in their car after being caught in a flood in the Kinabatangan district.
The family was leaving their village, Kampung Paris 2, due to the rising floodwaters when their journey was halted around midnight.
Firefighters were alerted to their situation.
However, due to logistical challenges and flood conditions, the firemen were only able to reach them at 2.47am.
They used ropes and a human chain to rescue the family – a man, a woman and two children – from their car.
The family was then taken to a temporary shelter.
In a separate incident, firemen in Kampung Kokos, Lahad Datu, rescued 22 people, including two infants, trapped in their homes by floodwaters.
The group, which comprised a man, 11 women and 10 children, was rescued using Fire and Rescue Department boats.
Some were taken to relatives’ homes while others were brought to temporary relief centres at a nearby vocational college.
As of 9am, the state Welfare Department reported that over 2,500 people from 854 families were displaced and housed in 19 relief centres across nine districts.
