KOTA KINABALU: Floodwaters continued to inundate villages across northern Sabah on Saturday (Feb 21), forcing nearly 5,000 people from their homes as evacuation centres filled up by evening.
As of 8pm Saturday, 4,761 residents from 1,828 families had been displaced across four districts, according to the Sabah State Disaster Command Centre.
Pitas remained the worst-hit area, accounting for 2,013 evacuees, followed by Kota Marudu with 1,923 people seeking shelter.
The situation in Paitan also worsened through the day, with displaced residents rising to 825.
Evacuee numbers continued climbing throughout Saturday, indicating deteriorating conditions in flood-affected areas.
The floods have also disrupted schooling, with state Education director Datuk Raisin Saidin saying replacement classes would be conducted based on the number of days schools were unable to operate.
A total of 26 temporary evacuation centres are now operating across affected districts.
No fatalities have been reported so far, though authorities cautioned that the situation remains fluid as rain continues in several areas.
Meanwhile, on the east coast of Sabah, the flood situation in Sandakan has fully eased following flash floods a day earlier, with water levels receding and no further inundation reported as weather conditions improved on Saturday.
However, concern is growing in Tawau after heavy rain began at around 9pm, with social media users sharing live footage at about 10.30pm showing rising water levels in several areas, including Jalan Batu Darat, Tanjung Batu and Kampung Vietnam.
Residents in Tanjung Batu Keramat said flooding there was the worst they had seen, sharing live footage showing water levels rising to waist height as rain continued late into the night.
The Fire and Rescue Department and the Malaysian Civil Defence Force have yet to issue official updates on the developing situation.
