119 flood victims in Kimanis allowed to return home
KOTA KINABALU: The 119 people or 45 families who were sheltered at the Penampang Baru Hall in Kimanis, Papar following the flash flood, were allowed to return home after the relief centre was officially closed at 2pm, yesterday.
Sabah Malaysia Civil Defence Force (MCDF) director Colonel Muliadi Al-Hamdi Ladin said the evacuees were allowed to return to their homes following the promising weather for the past couple of days.
“We have experienced minor drizzles while sometimes heavy rains but which did not last long.
“Roads are also passable by all vehicles, so we decided to allow villagers to return to their homes,” he said yesterday.
Muliadi however said MCDF, including other agencies, had been ordered to be on standby following warnings issued by the Meteorological Department that rain could be expected until Friday (August 18).
The abnormal rainfall for the past few days have caused many areas to be hit by flash floods while some schools were forced to close for a few days.
Among the worst hit areas was Kimanis in the Papar district with 119 people (45 families) evacuated from their homes.
Most of the victims are from Kampung Penampang Baru, Kampung Lingan Baru and Kampung Mendugi.
Other areas affected by the floods were Kampung Belatik, Kampung Daingin and Kampung Batu 14 Ulu Kimanis.
One hundred and thirty houses at the KRT Taman Sungai Wang in Kinarut were also badly affected by the flood, while nine primary schools at four districts in Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, Tuaran and Kota Belud were closed due to the flood.
The schools affected were SK Lapotung, SK Rungus, SK Togop and SRJK Chung Hwa Tenghilan in Tuaran; SK Kem Lok Kawi in Penampang; SK Timbanh in Kota Belud; and SK Darau, SK Kitobu and SK Rampayan in Kota Kinabalu.