Landslides cut road links
Published on: Tuesday, July 02, 2024
By:
Jeremy S Zabala, R Gonzales
The Keningau-Tenom road has been rendered impassable to traffic after a landslide at Km 21.9.
Kota Kinabalu: A landslide following continuous rain caused a stretch of road between Penampang and Tambunan to collapse on Monday.
The rain also caused landslides and mudflow at several locations in Penampang, as well as between here and Tenom, severely affecting road travel within the district.
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According to the Sabah Public Works Department, landslides were reported along CH1.100, CH1.199, CH1.253, CH0.869 and CH1.255 of the Madsiang-Kipouvo Road, rendering it impassable to all vehicles.
In addition, only one lane can be used at two stretches from here to Keningau and Tenom, namely at CH5.800 and CH24.300.
The department said there were no alternative routes available, and the route was inaccessible to all types of vehicles.
Initial measures taken by the department are the installation of a traffic management plan (TMP) and establishing a temporary detour.
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However, for those planning to travel to Tambunan, Keningau or Tenom, they may opt to use Jalan Kimanis-Keningau as an alternative main route.
The main road connecting Kiulu and Tamparuli in Bayon which reopened with lane yesterday evening.
Meanwhile, in TUARAN, one lane was opened to vehicles along the main road connecting Kiulu and Tamparuli in Bayaon, which was affected by landslides, at 5.45pm on Monday.
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At 6pm, dozens of vehicles that had been stranded since Sunday began to move slowly and alternately using the single lane.
Tuaran JKR District Engineer Farini Awang said they were cleaning up debris along the route involved from 8.30am.
“The rain from 1.30pm until 6pm on Sunday caused the hill to collapse, rendering both directions of the main route, including the alternative route that connects Kiulu and Tamparuli, impassable to vehicles.
“Among the affected routes are Jalan Kiulu- Tamparuli near Bayaon, Kampung Tompinahaton and Kampung Kionsom Lama, Jalan Bungaliu- Logkou-Timbok, Jalan Logkou Lama-Kiulu, Jalan Namadan-Tombung and Jalan Kiwoi-Lingga- Bambangan,” he said.
A survey revealed the Lawamandau-Telipok road was also affected by fallen trees and floodwaters inundating roads near Kampung Tampulan and Telipok town, which resulted in no alternative route available.
It was only after the water in the area receded about 9pm on Sunday and the clearing of tree debris that allowed Kiulu residents to go to Kota Kinabalu or Tuaran.
More than 2,000 residents in Kiulu were affected, in addition to experiencing disruptions to electricity, water and cellphone coverage.
Earlier, Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau said all the affected routes were expected to reopen for use again as soon as the cleaning work was completed.
Tangau, who was supposed to return to Kuala Lumpur to attend the ongoing parliamentary session, had to cancel his trip.
“For me, the people and the situation in the Tuaran area are more important,” he said when visiting the flood affected areas in Tuaran, Tamparuli and Kiulu, Monday.
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