BELURAN: Twelve students sitting for the Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia (STPM) examinations were evacuated to their examination centre by Beluran Fire and Rescue personnel after flooding cut off their village on Sunday.
The two boys and 10 girls were picked up from Simpang Tabung Haji Botitian Sugut in Beluran and transported to SMK Pamol to ensure they could sit their examinations safely.
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Beluran Fire and Rescue Station Chief Michael Edoen said the evacuation operation was carried out to ensure the affected students could reach the examination centre without incident.
Four firefighters, assisted by two officers from the Social Welfare Department, conducted the operation, which covered a 10-kilometre stretch from the flood-affected area to the school.
The team was deployed at 8.04am and the operation ended at 10.19am after confirming all students had arrived safely.
In PAITAN, nine secondary school students braved floodwaters to avoid missing classes after rising waters cut off the main road from their homes on Sunday.
Swift action by the Civil Defence Force ensured all nine reached school safely. The Paitan District Civil Defence Office (PDPA) mounted a special operation to evacuate the students from their flood-affected residential areas to SMK Salaping in Kota Marudu.
Paitan District Civil Defence Officer Bakrin Samsuddin said rising water levels inundated the main access road, making it difficult for residents to move in and out of the area.
“Recognising the importance of student attendance at school, particularly during a critical examination preparation period, the team acted swiftly using department vehicles to carry out a safe and controlled evacuation,” he said.
In TAWAU, twenty-four flood victims, including eight children, were rescued by the Tawau Fire and Rescue Department after heavy rain lasting nearly six hours inundated Kampung Tanjung Batu Keramat here on Saturday.
Tawau Fire and Rescue Chief Jemishin Ujin said the 16 adults and eight children were evacuated to the temporary relief centre at the Balai Raya Kampung Tanjung Batu Keramat.
Eight firefighters was dispatched with three units of equipment, including a boat and Emergency Medical Rescue Services vehicle, after an emergency call was received at 9.54pm.
“The team, led by Mohd Yahya Abdul Fatah, reached the location eight km away at 10.02pm,” he said.
Jemishin said the operation ended at 12.04am after water levels were reported to be receding, rain had stopped, and personnel confirmed there were no further hazards at the site.
Meanwhile, Tanjung Batu Assemblyman Dr Andi Md Shamsureezal Mohd Sainal urged Tanjung Batu and Pasir Putih residents to remain vigilant and take precautions for their safety following a combination of high tides and heavy rain that triggered flash flooding in several areas.
In a social media post, Dr Andi said he had contacted Tawau Municipal Council President Joseph Pang to activate the district’s disaster response machinery to expedite assistance to those affected.
He also visited flood-hit areas in his constituency to ensure that aid reached all victims without delay.
