TAWAU: Flash floods inundated large parts of Tawau on Saturday following six consecutive hours of heavy rainfall, forcing road closures and prompting the district’s disaster management committee chairman to declare a flood disaster at 11.30pm.
The worst-affected area was Jalan Shan Shui at Batu 9, Jalan Apas — one of Tawau’s main arterial roads — which was rendered completely impassable to vehicles.
Videos of the incident went viral on social media, showing torrents of water rushing down the hilly road with the route cut off entirely at around 10pm.
Many motorists were forced to park by the roadside as the route was closed to all vehicles due to floodwaters overflowing from the surrounding hills.
Jalan Sin On was among other severely affected areas, with water levels at several points rising high enough to nearly submerge parked vehicles along the roadside.
Residential neighbourhoods and villages known to flood regularly were also badly hit, including Batu 2 Jalan Apas, Kg Rawa-Rawa Batu 4, Ranggu and several town areas including Takada.
A 21-member team comprising four officers from the Tawau Civil Defence Force began monitoring flood-risk areas at 10.15pm.
