FOUR roads in Ranau district have been closed to all vehicles due to flooding following continuous heavy rain yesterday evening. 

The Sabah Disaster Management Committee secretariat in a statement said the main road connecting Kota Kinabalu with Sandakan, at Km179.308, has been closed because of the floods.

It also said Jalan Marakau-Kinapulidan-Kigiuk and Jalan Libang-Marakau have been closed due to flooding, while Jalan Kituntul Lama was closed due to a landslide. 

“Continuous rain for more than three hours caused several villages in this district to be flooded, namely Kampung Libang, Kituntul and Marakau. 

“As of 8 o’ clock this morning, a total of 45 people from 14 families were evacuated to the temporary relief centre at the Ranau district police headquarters hall, which was opened at 12.45am today,” read the statement. 

Six locations in Ranau have been identified as high-risk, namely, Kampung Libang, Marakau, Kituntul, Silou, Lasing and Bahab. 

It said that monitoring this morning found that the flood water has receded. 

The Sabah Public Works Department in a separate statement advised motorists using Jalan Kota Kinabalu-Sandakan that they can use two alternative routes to reach their respective destinations.

“Light vehicles can use Jalan Sinarut Baru-Togudon Baru, while heavy vehicles can use Jalan Marak Parak-Kota Marudu-Kota Kinabalu,” it said. – Bernama, January 5, 2023.