THREE more districts – Tenom, Keningau, and Sipitang – were hit by floods in Sabah this afternoon, in addition to Kunak and Penampang, causing the number of flood victims in the state to increase to 724 victims, involving 201 families, compared with 75 people (from 14 families) this morning.

The Sabah Disaster Management Committee secretariat in a statement said seven more relief centres have been opened to accommodate flood victims in affected districts, comprising three in Tenom and two each in Keningau and Sipitang. 

Two relief centres were earlier opened in Kunak and Penampang. 

It said 298 victims (from 80 families) were evacuated in Tenom, with 259 of them (from 71 families) sheltering at Rumah Kebudayaan Makakagas and 10 victims (from two families) at Rumah Kebudayaan Gunting. 

According to the statement, in Keningau, 296 victims from 87 families were evacuated, with 199 victims (from 40 families) sent to shelter at Dewan Gereja Kampung Senangang and the remaining 97 victims (from 47 families) to SK Pekan Keningau 2. 

In Sipitang, 55 flood victims involving 20 families were evacuated to the relief centre at Dewan Mini Mesapol (47 victims from 18 families) and to Dewan Sekolah Rendah Kebangsaan Cina Chung Hwa Mesapol (eight victims from two families).

The statement said the Dewan Kampung Airport Tun Fuad relief centre in Kunak, which was opened yesterday, still houses 66 victims from 13 families, while the flood shelter at Kelab Kompleks Sukan Penampang, which opened early this morning, accommodates a family of nine.

The Irrigation and Drainage Department on its website said Sungai Pegalan in Ansip, Keningau, exceeded the danger level this morning, but subsided to normal in the afternoon, while Sungai Padas in Tenom rose to the warning level of 176.91m in the afternoon compared with 157.57m in the morning.

The Sabah Public Works Department in a statement said Jalan Amboi 1 in Tenom has been closed due to damage caused by flash floods and advised the public to use the alternative Jalan Tenom-Kuala Tomani route. 

It said the Beaufort Road in Menumbok, which is underwater due to the overflowing Sungai Padas, is closed to light vehicles. Residents are advised to use the alternative Jalan Limbawang bypass. – Bernama, November 1, 2022.