268 evacuated in Kota Belud
102 families sent to relief centre as continuous rain bursts river banks and floods homes
KOTA KINABALU: The flood situation in Kota Belud has worsened, with the number of victims evacuated rising to 268.
The Sabah Malaysian Civil Defence Force said 102 families were among those sent to the relief centre at Tun Said Community Hall.
Their homes were flooded when rivers burst their banks following continuous rain over the past few days.
“The victims are from 15 villages in Kota Belud,” the organisation said in a statement last night.
They are Kg Donggoi, Kg Marajah, Kg Gunding, Kg Sadok-Sadok, Kg Sembirai, Kg Lingkodon, Kg Linau, Kg Lebak Moyoh, Kg Bobot, Kg Suang Punggur, Kg Menunggui, Kg Song-Song, Kg Sangkir, Kg Siasai and Kg Keram Benai.
In Labuan, several main roads and houses in at least eight villages on the duty-free island were submerged following torrential rain since early yesterday.
The main road from Kg Lajau towards the town centre is kneedeep in water.
A spokesman for the Labuan MP’s community service centre said a wooden house in Kg Kerupang was damaged by a falling tree while the roof of a house in Kg Sg Bedaun was torn off during a deluge.
The occupants escaped without injury.
The heavy rain, which began at about 3am, gradually increased in intensity until about noon and caused many roads on the island to be hit by flash floods.
In another development, Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) said efforts are being made to restore supply to several areas affected by a power disruption since Saturday.
It said the supply disruption was widespread in the city and at Papar, Beaufort and Tuaran after the heavy rain and flooding which uprooted many trees.
SESB deployed more standby teams to areas in Kota Kinabalu, Papar, Beaufort, Tuaran, Kudat, Kota Marudu, Kota Belud, Ranau, Keningau, Tenom, Tambunan, Kuala Penyu, Tambunan and Labuan.
On Wednesday, torrential rain and strong winds struck several areas in the city centre causing a number of trees to fall. But there were no casualties or flash floods reported. — Bernama