Drought hits 150,000 in Papar
KOTA KINABALU: A total of 42 villages, seven schools, seven housing estates and three places of worship in Papar involving 150,000 people are affected by the drought.
The villages are Kg Kuala, Kg Bundusan, Kg Seri Menanti, Kg Kawang, Kg Kuala 2 Kinarut, Kg Berundong, Kg Belalait, Kg Benoni, Kg Pengalat Kecil, Kg Kuala, Kg Melugus, Kg Kelanahan, Kg Baun Sumbiling, Kg Punson, Kg Sulim, Kg Ulu Sapat, Kg Limputong, Kg Langkuas, Kg Titimboungon, Kg Mook, Kg Tampasak, Kg Ulu Sabandil, Kg Rampazan, Kg Labak, Kg Kogopon, Kg Purak, Kg Tanaki, Kg Ovai, Kg Buang Sayang 1, Kg Buang Sayang 2, Kg Timbangan, Kg Melugus, Kg Kuala Dalam, Kg Padang Pulasan, Kg Bambangan, Kg Kelanahan, Kg Sabuk Kinarut, Kg Lapasan Kinarut, Kg Somboi Kinarut, Kg Anak Kinarut, Tanah Perkuburan Pangkalan Besar Melugus and Kg Seri Menanti.
Papar District Disaster Management Committee chairman Mohd Fuad Abdullah disclosed in a statement on Friday.
The affected schools are SMK Kinarut, SMK Majakir, SMK Benoni, SAN Kuala, SK Kuala, SK Pekan and SK Pantai Manis, he said.
Housing estates and houses of worship involved are Taman Villan Anggun, Kelanahan Housing, Taman Rosejaya, Taman Buang Sayang, Kuala 1, 2 and 3 Housing, Taman Sayang, Kg Pengalat Kecil Mosque, Sungai Padang Mosque, and Kg Limbahau Church, he added.
Clean water supply distribution operations are carried out according to schedule at SK Pantai Manis, Kg Timbangan, Palm Condominium and Kg Limbahau church.
The operation involved assets and logistics from the relevant departments and agencies, including seven 10,000-litre tanker lorries from the Sabah State Water Department, as well as one tanker lorry each from the Papar District Council and the Limbahau state constituency, he said.
Others are three lorries from Kawang state constituency, Papar parliamentary constituency (one), Public Works Department (two), Pantai Manis state constituency (one), and one rescue tender truck from the Sabah Fire and Rescue Department.
Mohd Fuad also informed that on Friday, the Fire and Rescue Department in Papar reported one case of bush fire at SK Agama Sekayan, Pengalat Besar involving an area of two acres at 12.07pm.
The department also recorded nine fires within the period of one week starting March 9.
These included bush fires at Kg Beringgis (March 9), Kg Surapit (March 12) and Kg Manggis (March 14), Kg Kopimpinan Kawang (March 10) and Monfort Youth Training Center Kinarut (March 12) and Kg Manggis (March 13).
Forest fires occurred in Kg Langkawit (March 12) and Kg Berundong (March 13).
“Drought in the district also impacted the agriculture sector, particularly 93 paddy planters at Mukim Limbahau (54.68 hectares) and Mukim Biau Padawan with an area of 30.22 hectares,” he said.
“In terms of fire prevention, the Sabah Information Department, particularly the District Information Office, has conducted Info On Wheels (IOW) at three locations, namely Kampung Berundong, Kampung Bambangan, and Kampung Beringgis,” he said.
The Disaster Control Operations Centre (PKOB), comprising various agencies and departments, has been activated and operated 24 hours on Level 1 of Bangunan Urus Setia Daerah Papar, and can be contacted at 088-914999.
“The Sabah government is always vigilant and will continue to monitor the developments of this disaster to ensure that the situation remains under control,” he added.
Drought in the district also impacted the agriculture sector, particularly 93 paddy planters at Mukim Limbahau (54.68 hectares) and Mukim Biau Padawan with an area of 30.22 hectares.
Mohd Fuad Abdullah