SIPITANG: Landslides forced the closure of the road leading to Kg Lubok Darat in both directions following heavy rainfall that saturated and destabilised the ground, Sunday.
Sipitang District Police Chief Supt Awang Suanda, said officers cordoned off the area with police tape as a safety precaution and are warning road users of the hazard.
“The public is advised not to pass through for the time being and to use nearby alternative routes,” he said.
Motorists travelling from Kg Lubok Laut and Weston heading to Sipitang are unable to use the road and must, instead, take the alternative route via Jalan Lingkungan through Mesapol before continuing to Sipitang.
Awang also confirmed that several villages in the district have been affected by flooding, including Kampung Tanjung Nipis and areas along Jalan Kampung Lubok Darat.
A monitoring patrol conducted by Mobile Patrol Vehicle unit officers at 8pm, following reports from the public of flash flooding near the entrance to Kampung Lubok Darat, found water levels at Sungai Mesapol had reached the alert level with rain still falling at the time.
Small vehicles were unable to pass through the main access road into the village.
Awang said monitoring would continue periodically to ensure the safety of residents and road users, and urged the public to avoid affected areas unless travel was absolutely necessary.
Meanwhile, Kg Tanjung Nipis resident, Adnan HS, said the heavy rain that began Saturday had caused severe flooding in the village, with water rising to floor level in a number of stilted homes, sending residents scrambling to salvage their belongings.
Adnan cautioned fellow villagers to remain vigilant, pointing out that venomous creatures are often displaced by rising waters and may take refuge in flooded homes.
“Snakes, centipedes and scorpions and even crocodiles can appear when water rises from nearby rivers during floods,” he said.
