BELURAN: A pregnant woman was airlifted to safety on Sunday after heavy rains washed out the only bridge connecting her village to the outside world.
The 26-year-old, who was eight months pregnant and facing complications, was flown out of Kampung Abuan, Paitan by a Fire and Rescue Department helicopter after the Kampung Kumambu iron bridge collapsed.
The bridge collapsed after days of heavy rain and swollen rivers starting on January 29, leaving the village completely cut off by road. Health officials reported that even using boats on the river was too risky.
The Beluran District Health Office learned of the collapse on January 30. While the woman was in stable condition and being closely monitored by nurses at the village clinic, health workers were concerned about potential emergencies if she went into early labour.
With the ongoing bad weather and no clear timeline for when the bridge would be repaired, the health team could not afford to wait, as the woman needed access to full hospital facilities.
The district health office, in coordination with the State Health Department and local disaster response teams, arranged for a helicopter rescue.
After receiving quick approval from multiple agencies, a Mi-171 helicopter arrived at the health clinic on Sunday morning to transport the woman.
She was flown to the Beluran Sports Complex field and then taken by ambulance to Beluran Hospital for a check-up. Both mother and baby are doing well.
In a Facebook post, the Beluran District Health Office highlighted the success of the rescue, emphasising their dedication to protecting pregnant women in remote areas, especially those impacted by disasters.
The health office expressed gratitude to the Fire and Rescue Department, Paitan disaster response teams, Civil Defence Force, district education office, Beluran Hospital, and all other agencies involved in the rescue.
They also praised the clinic staff in Abuan for their continued dedication to providing care in challenging conditions.
