Statewide alert for flash floods and landslips as dry season getting wetter

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KOTA KINABALU: Flash floods and landslips are on the increase in Sabah as the state experiences a “wetter” dry season due to the La Nina phenomena, according to Sabah Meteorological Department director Abdul Malik Tussin.

He said that with thousands of people, especially in the east coast, already affected by flash floods and landslips close to housing estates, authorities across the state are on alert to mitigate problems at flood and landslip prone areas.

There are signs the La Nina phenomenon is gathering strength, with rains in most parts of Sabah despite the current south-west monsoon dry season between June and September, he said.

“We are expecting it to strengthen especially with wetter conditions,” he said, adding that people in the state should be on alert for flooding and landslips that could be triggered during this season.

Last Thursday, some 1,500 villagers were evacuated from Kg Pasir Putih in Tawau as flash floods washed away two wooden houses and damaged numerous cars and household items. No casualties were reported though many victims remain at relief centres.

The flooding incident came a few days after a landslip in the state capital destroyed two workers quarters and sent earth and rocks crashing into the back of houses at an housing estate.

However, apart from last Thursday’s cave-in at Tawau-Semporna road, no serious damages or fatalities were reported in flash floods and landslips in the state.

Local authorities, including Kota Kinabalu City Hall and other district councils, have embarked on “housekeeping” operations to clear clogged drains in efforts to mitigate flooding problems.

However, some admit that rainfall was much higher and various mitigation projects were not fully capable of tackling floods caused by severe downpours though landslips could be controlled if hill slope developers comply with approval requirements.

:          Meanwhile, Public Works Department director John Anthony said all district officers have been ordered to conduct checks on roads that cut across hilly areas, including the Crocker Range, to minimise landslip risk during the rainy season.

“One of our key areas is to make sure that the drains along the roads are not clogged to enable the water to run off properly. If it is clogged, flooding could occur and cause among others landslips due to saturation of embankment,” he said yesterday.