KOTA KINABALU: Over 70 Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia exam candidates in Sabah have been evacuated from their flood-hit homes so they can sit for their papers.
In Pitas, the disaster operations control centre coordinated efforts to evacuate 65 students from SMK Pitas and SMK Pitas 2.
The operation was carried out on Sunday (Feb 22) in flood-hit Paitan, Pinapak, Kanibongan, Pandan Mendamai and Kusilat, involving personnel from the Civil Defence Force (APM), Fire and Rescue Department, Armed Forces and Volunteers Corps Department (Rela).
In Paitan, nine STPM candidates were transported safely from flood-hit areas to continue their journey to SMK Salaping in Kota Marudu after rising waters cut off access routes.
Floods hit more than 20 schools and a rural health clinic in Tangkarason in the district, with some suffering property damage since Feb 18.
Meanwhile, the number of flood victims has increased to 5,036 in three Sabah districts of Pitas, Paitan and Tawau.
Paitan recorded an increase in evacuees with 1,357 victims from 590 families, Pitas with 2,618 victims from 1,276 families and Tawau with 245 victims from 55 families as of 4pm on Monday (Feb 23).
They are being housed at 32 temporary shelters – 11 in Pitas, 20 in Paitan and one in Tawau.
Floods were also reported in Beaufort since Sunday after the Padas River overflowed but no evacuations were reported.
In Tawau, the disaster management committee declared a flood disaster on Feb 21 at 11.30pm.
Meanwhile, soldiers in army trucks helped send food and basic aid to villagers cut off by floods in Pitas.
Weather conditions have improved but more rain has been forecast over the next few days.
