Kota Kinabalu: The number of flood victims in Sabah continued to rise to 4,458 as of 4pm Thursday, compared with 3,617 recorded at noon. The Sabah State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN) Secretariat said the victims, from 1,505 families, were currently being housed at 22 relief centres operating in five districts.
Tenom continued to record the highest number with an increase to 2,406 people (795 families) currently sheltering at 13 relief centres. The number of victims in Beaufort also increased to 1,231 people (384 families).
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They are currently placed at the Selagon Permanent Relief Centre, Banir State Constituency Hall relief centre, and a newly opened centre, namely the Bisaya Arts and Culture Hall. The flood situation in three other districts, namely Sipitang, Membakut and Sook, showed no change.
Overall, the number of villages affected by the floods across the five districts remained at 146 villages. No casualties have been reported so far.
“I understand this is among the worst floods Tenom has experienced. I also chaired a special meeting at the Disaster Operations Room at the Tenom District Office to discuss follow-up actions, logistical requirements and immediate assistance for affected residents,” said Sabah Rural Development Minister-cum-Tenom Assemblyman Datuk Rubin Balang.
Oil palm smallholder Ginus Ampal, 54, recalled that the last time Tenom experienced such severe flooding was in 2014, following continuous heavy rain and a rapid rise in river water levels, a situation he said closely resembled the current disaster.
The father of four said he was resting at his home in Kampung Bunut Wednesday evening when he was awakened by muddy water surging into his living room.
“The water rose much faster than in previous floods. My wife and I were in shock and only managed to grab important documents and a few clothes before the water reached waist level in less than an hour. I watched as our garden and farming equipment, our family’s source of income, were submerged in an instant,” he said tearfully.
Retail shop owner Rita Erin Kating, 38, described the experience of seeing strong currents inundate her premises in Pekan Tenom as terrifying and unforgettable.
“Everything happened too quickly. Heavy rain since the evening caused the river to overflow into the shop area with a powerful current, unlike the usual floods we’ve experienced over the past 10 years.
My husband and I had to give up on saving our merchandise and focus on escaping. Almost 80 per cent of the daily essentials in the shop were destroyed by the mud,” said Rita, who is sheltering at the same PPS
