KOTA KINABALU: Clearer skies over Sabah’s flood and landslide-hit west coast districts in the last 48 hours offered a brief respite, but concerns over more landslides and potential rain remain.
Despite the improving weather, brief spells of rain are fuelling fears as geologists warn that the saturated and loosened soil on slopes could still cause landslides, even after the rain stops.
A landslide in clear weather at 1.10am yesterday destroyed two more houses along the slopes of the Penampang-Tambunan road.
A dozen families living in the two houses managed to escape after they felt the building starting to slide due to earth movement.
Another house and two cars were also damaged in the landslide at Kg Sogumau Madsiang, with firemen urging surrounding residents to relocate to safer ground amid fears of further landslides.
According to relief workers, some residents were still reluctant to move despite three mudslides and mudflows on Tuesday.
Penampang, located between hills and valleys of the Crocker Range, remains under threat of more landslides following continuous rains since Sept 8.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who made a visit to flood and landslip areas in Putatan, Papar and Beaufort yesterday, said they have requested the Mineral and Geoscience Department to assess high-risk slopes in the affected areas.
“They have identified a few areas and both the state and federal authorities will work together to take appropriate action,” said Ahmad Zahid, who also met with family members who survived the landslide in Papar.
A total of 13 people, including seven children, died when landslides flattened their houses in separate incidents in Kota Kinabalu, Papar and Penampang.
The landslides also triggered a four-day blackout on the east coast of Sabah after a power transmission tower collapsed in Kolopis-Segualid in Penampang.
Sabah Electricity reconnected the grid and synchronised it with Sandakan’s Main Intake Station as of 10pm on Wednesday, four days ahead of schedule.
The power shortage also triggered a water shortage in Sandakan and other east coast towns as water treatment plants could not operate.
Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Shahelmey Yahya said water production was disrupted due to electricity issues in Sandakan and Kinabatangan, while in Kota Kinabalu, soil erosion, burst pipes and water turbidity affected water production.
He said the Public Works Department received a total of 46 landslide reports, including 26 in Penampang, from Sept 8-16.
He said 46 incidents of slope collapse and 10 cases of road collapse occurred, with most of the cases in Penampang, Kota Kinabalu and Papar.
As at 1pm yesterday, a total of 3,299 flood victims from 954 families remained at 28 flood relief centres in Beaufort, Penampang, Membakut, Papar, Putatan and Sipitang.
Membakut had the highest number of victims with 1,085 from 326 families in six relief centres, Penampang with 610 victims from 163 families, Papar had 369 victims from 105 families, Putatan had 566 victims from 143 families, Sipitang had 324 victims from 115 families, and Beaufort had 286 victims from 91 families.
According to a statement by the Sabah Disaster Management Committee, a total of 129 villages were affected.
The number of evacuees has dropped in Beaufort, Penampang and Putatan, while Membakut and Sipitang showed an increase.
Of the 3,299 victims, 1,818 were adults, 1,339 were children and babies.
Meanwhile, flood waters are receding slowly, though most areas remain inaccessible due to the mud sludge, especially in Penampang, while in Membakut flood waters are expected to recede in several days if the rain stops.
