KOTA KINABALU: The number of flood evacuees in Sabah rose to 6,732 from 2,293 families as at 8am Saturday (Feb 28) from 6,663 from 2,331 families Friday (Feb 27).
The State Disaster Management Committee Secretariat said, in a statement, that Tenom recorded an upward trend in the number of evacuees, namely 4,500 people from 1,507 families.
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The number of evacuees in Beaufort, Membakut and Sipitang remained unchanged at 1,462 (467 families), 441 (173 families) and 329 (146 families) respectively.
A total of 93 villages in Beaufort have been inundated by floodwaters, followed by Tenom (46 villages), Sipitang (22 villages) and Membakut (16 villages).
All evacuees are being accommodated at 32 relief centres opened since Wednesday (Feb 25), with residents from 177 villages across the four affected districts unable to carry out their daily activities.
Meanwhile, the Padas River reached a dangerous level of 10.10 metres as at 6am, Saturday, forcing the closure of several roads in Beaufort and Membakut.
Beaufort Police Chief Wong Leong Meng said affected but still passable include the stretch from Km 2 Jalan Beaufort-Sipitang up to Jalan Kg Bukau.
The public is advised not to wade through flooded areas, to obey instructions from the authorities and to plan their journeys carefully.
“Do not attempt to cross floodwaters as there may be dangerous and venomous animals such as scorpions, centipedes and snakes, and there is also the possibility of crocodiles swimming into flooded areas,” he warned.
