Jan 18, 2010

Floods worsen in Sabah

To safer place: Residents evacuating their homes In Kinabatangan. The water level in the area surpassed the danger mark of 9.85m yesterday. —Bernama

KOTA KINABALU: The number of flood evacuees in the state has nearly tripled from 850 to more than 2,600 as more districts reported being hit by flooding.

The latest district is Telupid in the east coast, where 600 people from six villages had to be moved to relief centres.

In Kota Belud, 398 people had been evacuated to the relief centres at the district’s community hall and SMK Taun Gusi.

In Kinabatangan, 462 people have been evacuated while the northern Kota Marudu district saw the largest number of people affected, with 1,177 from 23 villages having to move to relief centres.

Kota Marudu district officer Luvita Kiansun said the water levels of the two major rivers there — Sungai Kanarom and Sungai Bandau — had surpassed the danger mark.

Meanwhile, the families in Sabah’s “rice bowl” districts of Kota Belud and Kota Marudu could only watch helplessly as their padi crop — which was on the verge of being harvested — was flooded after five days of incessant rain.

State Assistant Minister of Community Development and Consumers Affairs Datuk Herbert Timbon Lagadan said the affected families could only hope the rain will stop so they can salvage some of the harvest.

“In areas like Mukim Kalawat, more than 12ha of the padi fields have been flooded. The farmers are praying they can salvage about 40% of their harvest.

“If the rain doesn’t stop, then all their crops will be wiped out. This is the second year in a row they are facing such a disaster,” he said.