2,700 students affected in Beaufort, Papar floods

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All school equipment and learning materials were placed on top of tables to prevent them from getting wet. Jame on left.

KOTA KINABALU: About 2,700 students were affected as 11 schools were closed due to floods in Beaufort and Papar yesterday.

State Education director Datuk Jame Alip said a total of 13 primary schools and a secondary school in Beaufort, Papar and Tenom were flooded.

Nonetheless, lessons were still carried out at SK Kalang Kanar in Tenom, SK Lago and SK Batu 60 in Beaufort despite the flood.

In Beaufort, SK Pekan Membakut, SK Sinoko, SK Bambangan, SK Lembah Poring, SJK(C) Pei Yin, SK Tamalang, SJK(C) Kong Ming, SMK Membakut, SK St Patrick and SK Mempagar were closed. The flood also led to the closure of SK Sumbiling in Papar as the roads were inaccessible.

“Schools that are closed (due to floods) will have to replace the schooling on Saturday,” Jame said.

According to Jame, the flood had affected 2,982 students and 306 teachers in the 14 schools, inclusive of schools that were closed and those that remained open yesterday.

Jame personally went to SK St Patrick in Membakut yesterday to inspect the damage caused by the flood.

Meanwhile, National Security Council (NSC) Sabah informed that 173 flood victims from 54 households in Membakut had been evacuated to relief centres since yesterday morning.

The evacuees were from Kampung Baitam, Kampung Kayai, Kampung Lumantak, Kampung Lampigas, Kampung Baru, Kampung Bambangan, Kampung Sinoko, Kampung Takapan and Membakut town.

On the other hand, 24 victims from eight households in Kampung Luagan were evacuated to another relief centre in Beaufort since 8am.

As of 4.30pm yesterday, the water level at the Padas River in Membakut and Beaufort were at 6.8 metres and 9.24 metres respectively, both at the danger level.

However, NSC Sabah stated that the water level was receding.

The rain in Beaufort and Membakut was reported to have started since Monday evening and lasted till yesterday morning.