Mt Kinabalu foothill residents advised to monitor rivers

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pix100007972KOTA KINABALU: Residents at the foothills of Mt Kinabalu, particularly Kota Belud and Kundasang have been advised to monitor and inform the relevant authorities of any blockage of the rivers near their abode.

Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) geology lecturer Prof Dr Felix Tongkul said he visited Kota Belud this morning and found that the water level in Sungai Ulu Kadamian and Sungai Penataran had risen.

“At 10.30 am, Sungai Ulu Kadamaian in Kampung Tombotuan was at normal level. Then it rained heavily and the water flowed down the mountain into the river causing it to swell.

“By 11.30 am, the water level had already risen and it was muddy,” he said in a statement today.

He said, about an hour later, the river was flooded with mud, inundating Sekolah Kebangsaan Kiau Taburi which is located near the river, for the second time.

Meanwhile, the water level in Sungai Panataran although higher, was under control, he said.

Felix hoped the authorities would conduct more monitoring on the high risk rivers. – BERNAMA