KOTA KINABALU: The number of people at relief centres across Sabah has risen to more than 3,000 in six districts as of 8pm Wednesday (Sept 17), seeking shelter from floods and landslides that have hit the state since Sept 8.
According to the Sabah Natural Disaster Management secretariat, a total of 3,168 people from 892 families from 128 kampung were being housed at 27 relief centres in affected areas.
The increase in evacuees was seen in south western Membakut were 1,030 people from nine villages are housed at relief centres, Papar (353 from 20 kampung), Putatan (567 from eight villages) and Sipitang (170 from 20 kampung).
The situation in Beaufort was unchanged with 288 evacuees from 46 kampung, while in Penampang, there was a reduction in evacuees with 701 people from 24 kampung remaining.
The overall weather improved over west coast Sabah with more sunshine experced Wednesday though rivers are still monitored closely as rains are expected to continue till Thursday (Sept 18).
Late Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi arrived in Sabah and was given a briefing by State Secretary Datuk Seri Safar Untong on the situation in the state.
Ahmad Zahid, who is national Disaster Management Committee chairman, visited two temporary centres in Putatan and Keramat.
He is also expected to visit the two landslip sites where five people were killed in Kampung Mook and Kg Marahang in Papar Thursday (Sept 18) and also see the Sungai Kaiduan bridge which was washed off by strong currents.
