KOTA KINABALU: As floodwaters surged around her home in Kampung Ulu Mawao, Membakut, Maria Alex lay helpless, clinging to hope for a miracle to reach her life-saving dialysis treatment.
The 48-year-old, who is partially paralysed, urgently needed medical attention at Beaufort District Hospital. But with roads submerged and flood currents growing stronger, the odds of making it out seemed grim.
Then, help arrived.
A team of four Civil Defence Force (APM) personnel answered the distress call, wading through the rising waters to reach her.
Carefully, they lifted Maria onto a stretcher and carried her through the flood-stricken village to their waiting ambulance. She was safely transported to the hospital at 11.09am yesterday.
“She’s safe now, and that’s all that matters,” said one of the rescuers, who braved thigh-deep waters to bring her to safety.
Membakut – a sub-district in Sabah’s southwestern Beaufort district, about 90km from Kota Kinabalu – was officially declared a disaster area at 3pm yesterday.
“Based on reports and on-the-ground assessments, we are declaring Membakut a disaster area and have activated the Dewan SMK Membakut relief centre to accommodate displaced residents,” announced district officer Ibrahim Terki.
According to the secretariat of the Sabah State Disaster Management Committee, as of 4pm yesterday, 721 residents from 212 families had been displaced, seeking shelter in five relief centres across three flood-hit districts – Beaufort, Kinabatangan and Tambunan.
Beaufort recorded the highest number of evacuees, with 430 people taking refuge in two centres: Dewan Selagon and Dewan Bisaya. In Kinabatangan, 278 evacuees found shelter at SK Sukau and SK Bukit Garam, while 13 residents were relocated to the Tambunan Community Hall relief centre.
Keningau district officer Peter Jonu @ Peter J Moinjil confirmed that two relief centres – Dewan Keningau and Keningau Community Hall – were closed yesterday.
