Flood-hit Keningau still on alert
Residents fear repeat of deadly 1996 tropical storm
KOTA KINABALU: The interior Keningau district remains on high alert with Sabah still feeling the effects of the powerful tropical storm Kai Tak, raising the spectre of the deadly tropical storm Greg in 1996.
Excavators are being used to dredge the Pampang and Liawan rivers to prevent more erosion as waters began receding from 10am yesterday.
A flash flood washed away two houses along the Pampang River on Sunday afternoon and severely damaged 14 others, leaving more than 120 people homeless.
The flash flood along the Liawan River washed away or damaged 20ha of padi fields, state Assistant Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Datuk Sairin Karno said.
It was a disturbing echo of Greg from 21 years ago, which caused massive property and environmental damage and claimed 170 lives when it hit Sabah in late December that year.
“The Pampang River is usually a stream, but it became a raging torrent after heavy downpour upstream,” said Sairin, who is the assemblyman for Liawan.
He said the fast-flowing water had caused severe erosion along Kampung Pampang and villagers could only watch helplessly as the two houses were washed into the river.
The damaged houses were left unusable, Sairin said, adding that at least one road to Kampung Limbawan and two suspension bridges were also washed away.
He said damage to padi fields along the Liawan had affected 10 families.
Welfare assistance has been given to the flood victims, who have moved in with relatives.
Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan also visited the flood-hit areas.
In the northern Kota Belud district, some 90 people were evacuat- ed to the district community centre after floods recurred in 14 villages after less than a week.
Sabah Fire and Rescue Services Department operations centre chief Khatizah Rahaban said five more people from Kampung Penampang were moved to the Penampang sports complex hall after their homes were inundated.