KOTA KINABALU: More than 10 roads leading to several districts and villages were rendered impassable due to continuous heavy rains since 4pm on Tuesday (Feb 11) until late Wednesday (Feb 12), with the resulting floods described as the worst to hit Tenom, Keningau and Beaufort.
Fire and Rescue Services Department public relations officer Senior Assistant Superintendent Mohd Affendy Ramin said among the roads that were closed and impassable to vehicles were Kilometer (KM) 22.4, KM 1.2 and KM 61 at Jalan Tenom Kuala Tomani, KM 1.6 Jalan Ponontomon Enubai, KM 0.40 Jalan Bunut and Jalan Tumantalik, all in the district of Tenom.
Three roads in the district of Beaufort were also closed due to floods: KM 99.70 Jalan KK/Sindumin, KM 93 – 101 Jalan KK/Sindumin, and Jalan Beaufort/Menumbok.
Two villages at Pensiangan were also cut-off after bridges at Kebia Bias and Naunduk river became impassable due to rising water levels while a section of Jalan Sepulut Agis Pensiangan at KM 21.1 was closed due to landslide, Mohd Affendy said.
Twenty-four villages in Tenom, two villages in Keningau and six villages in Beaufort were flooded with hundreds of homes submerged by floodwaters of between one to three metres deep.
The district of Tenom was badly affected by floods which saw more than 2,200 people forced to evacuate their homes and take shelter at either relatives’ homes or temporary evacuation centers. Among the villages inundated were Kampung Kuala Paal, Kg Sapong, Kg Inubai, Kg Tenom Lama, Kg Tunam Talik, Kg Binai, Kg Gumisi Laut, Kg Gumisi Ulu, Kg Belumbung/Maugus, Kg Anglor, Kg Mamaitom, Kg Labuk, Kg Paal Seberang, Kg Mandalom, Kg Enubai, Kg Ponontomon, Kg Sindungon, Kg Lalandang, Kg Kalasasan, Kg Mansalima, Kg Sapong, Kg Binaai, Kg Bunut/Ulloi and Kg Paguokon Laut.
Meanwhile villages in Keningau that were badly affected were Kg Ansip and Kg Mempikit with 282 people being evacuated from their homes. Forty eight villagers from Kg Binunuk, Kg Bambangan, Kg Baitam, Kg Bakalau, Kg Lampijas and Kg Batu in Beaufort were also evacuated.
Mohd Affendy added that as of 8am yesterday, the water level at Padas river in Beaufort was recorded at 9.67 metres which was considered at the danger level, while Pegalan Ansip river and Sook Biah river in Keningau recorded depths of 240.85 metres and 256.66 metres respectively.