Babagon dam not in danger

KOTA KINABALU: The sound automatically triggered from the siren at Babagon Dam in Penampang when the water level in the dam reaches 130.50 metres does not mean that the dam is in danger.

The Sabah Water Department in a statement yesterday said the sound was actually to notify and to warn the villagers downstream to stay clear of the river and not to swim or go fishing in the area where most probably they would get hurt or injured when overflowing water gushed down into the spillways.

“When the dam level goes beyond 130.50 metres, the siren will sound just before overflowing. But it does not mean that the dam is in danger. The dam will overflow in a safe manner when it is full,” the department said.

The statement was issued following public fear due to misinformation circulated in the social media about Babagon Dam releasing water and the siren triggered along Moyog River.

According to the statement, the function of the dam was not only to contain raw water but it also had been helping to lessen Moyog River flow by 15 percent.

The dam holds up to 23,780 million litres of water at any one time from passing through Babagon River into Moyog River, even in the wake of incessant rain conditions.

“At 3pm today, the Babagon Dam level was at about 130.05 metres. The overflow level is at 130.50 metres,” the statement said.

Meanwhile, Local Housing and Government Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor advised local authorities throughout the state to be ready for any eventualities caused by the current wet spell.

He said that he had also asked all district officers to activate their respective natural disaster committees.

“I have told the local authorities to also check and clear up all the drains in their areas so that the rain water can flow easily,” he said when commenting on the recent flash floods and the continuing wet spell predicted to occur for another five days in Sabah, particularly in the west coast.

Hajiji, who was met after launching Sutera Harbour Resort’s annual National Day celebration here yesterday, also refuted claims that the local authorities in the floodhit districts were slack in their duties to clear up the drains.

“This is not true, the local authorities do clear up the drains frequently but the flood occurred because of the abnormal rainfall. With the amount of rain on Sunday and Monday, not only our drains but also the rivers overflowed.

“The public must understand that the weather is unpredictable and we cannot do anything if the rainfall is abnormal causing our drains and rivers to overflow.

“This predicament also happens in other countries which have sophisticated drainage system. They experience flooding too,” he said.