KOTA KINABALU: The flood situation in Sabah’s interior Tenom remains critical, with the number of evacuees continuing to rise, although there are signs of easing in the south-western districts.
The number of flood evacuees has risen to 5,206 people from 1,741 households in Tenom, where 46 villages continue to be inundated, according to the State Disaster Management Committee Secretariat.
A total of 6,910 flood victims from 2,282 households in 155 kampungs remain at flood evacuation centres in Tenom, Beaufort and Membakut, while flood relief centres in Sipitang have been shut down following improving conditions as of 4pm Saturday (Feb 28).
According to the secretariat, the number of evacuees in Beaufort remains at 1,462 people from 467 families, while Membakut saw the closure of one relief centre, with 202 people from 74 families still at the remaining centres.
Sipitang has allowed all evacuees to return home after the relief centres, which had sheltered 329 people from 146 families, were closed on Saturday. The floods, which began on Feb 24, affected 93 villages in Beaufort, Tenom (46 villages), Sipitang (22 villages) and Membakut (16 villages).
On Feb 18, the northern Pitas district and neighbouring Paitan in Beluran district, as well as Tawau, were hit by floods that forced the evacuation of over 5,000 people before they were able to return home by Feb 23.
Relief assistance for the victims is ongoing as state authorities continue to assess the massive damage to infrastructure, crops and livestock, as well as the impact on dozens of schools and businesses in the affected areas.
