Worst flood in Kinabatangan in eight years submerges villages and forces evacuations.
KOTA KINABALU: Kinabatangan has experienced its worst floods in eight years, with water levels surpassing the danger threshold and forcing evacuations across multiple villages.
As of 11am on Saturday (Feb 8), the Civil Defence Force (APM) reported that 70 families from two villages remain in temporary relocation centres, with 43 families (173 people) at SK Bukit Garam and 27 families (103 people) at SK Sukau.
APM officer Captain Ahmad Roslan Mohd Kamel said that the floods affected 12 villages in Lamag and 14 villages in Sukau.
He confirmed that water levels in Pekan Kinabatangan are receding but remain at dangerous levels. As of 10am on Saturday, the water level in Kinabatangan stands at 10.99 metres, remaining above the 10.00-metre warning threshold, though showing a slow downward trend.
However, in Kampung Bilit, floodwaters have just started to rise, prompting response teams from the police, APM, and Fire and Rescue Department to assess the situation. If necessary, villagers will be relocated to SK Sukau.
Ahmad Roslan said that this is the most severe flooding in Kinabatangan in the past eight years, surpassing previous floods in 2010.
“For the past eight years, we have only conducted flood monitoring, as water levels never exceeded the danger threshold. But this time, it has remained high, leading to the opening of relief centres for the first time,” he said.
He added that Kinabatangan’s floodwaters are receding slowly, a phenomenon known locally as ‘banjir termenung’—where water lingers instead of draining quickly.
“We expect a slight rise in water levels due to overflow from the Keningau river system, but based on current weather patterns, it is unlikely to reach critical levels,” he said.
APM continues to monitor the situation while distributing food baskets to evacuees. Authorities are closely tracking water levels, with response teams on standby as flood conditions evolve.
For some residents, this is the worst flood they have seen in decades.
Juliani Jimes, 51, an evacuee at SK Sukau, said the last time Kinabatangan experienced flooding this severe was in 1995.
“Back then, it was even worse, but after that, either there were no floods or they weren’t this serious. This time, the situation is really bad,” she said.
Juliani and her extended family, five families in total, were forced to evacuate from their village. However, her husband decided to stay behind.
“He wanted to take care of our house. Of course, I worry about his safety, but I trust that he knows what he’s doing,” she said.
She added that they had been monitoring the water levels and were prepared to evacuate when the time came.
“When we saw the water rising, we packed our things and got ready to leave. Thankfully, APM arrived just in time to rescue us. We weren’t in immediate danger, but we were already stranded and couldn’t go anywhere,” she said.
Flooding has also impacted eco-tourism operators in Kampung Bilit, an area known for nature retreats and river tours. While there have been no reports of stranded tourists, authorities have reminded resort operators to prepare for relocation if water levels continue to rise.
Sukau Rainforest Lodge and Tanini Kinabatangan, two popular destinations in the area, confirmed that their operations remain unaffected, with tours continuing as usual but had to cancel the scheduled river cruises.
Kinabatangan is a district in eastern Sabah, famous for its vast floodplains, the Kinabatangan River, and rich biodiversity, making it a renowned wildlife sanctuary and a popular tourist hotspot for nature and eco-tourism.
On Friday (Aug 8), Kinabatangan MP and Lamag assemblyman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin visited the affected areas to assess the situation and distribute aid. He surveyed flood-hit villages, including Pangkalan, Kampung Muhibbah, and Kampung Mengaris in Sukau, and called for continued assistance for affected communities.
"Some villages were not just hit by floods but completely cut off due to road access being submerged. We have already provided assistance to these areas and will propose to Nadma (National Disaster Management Agency) that they also be considered for future aid."
Bung Moktar also raised concerns about crocodile sightings in flooded areas, urging residents—especially children—to avoid floodwaters.
"We have received reports that wild animals, including crocodiles, have been spotted. Thankfully, no incidents have been recorded so far, but we urge all residents to be extra careful,” he added.
