KOTA KINABALU: Rescuers are continuing the overnight search for a 97-year-old man believed to have been buried in a landslide in Kampung Sarapung, Penampang, near here late on Thursday night (Sept 11).
Penampang fire station chief Zeno Tinggalan said on Friday (Sept 12) that search and rescue operations were still underway for the man, believed to be buried under tonnes of mud that engulfed his two-storey semi-permanent wooden house.
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“Our main focus is on finding the male victim, believed to still be under the rubble of the house that is almost completely destroyed,” he said, adding that bad weather posed an additional challenge.
“Our operation faces challenges as we are unable to access the area by vehicle. The road is flooded and there have been several landslides.
“Firemen had to walk three kilometres to reach the (victim’s) house,” he said.
According to Zeno, the distress call came in at 6.30pm on Thursday.
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An assessment at the site revealed that heavy machinery, such as excavators, is needed to clear the area.
“A request for this assistance has been sent to the district disaster management committee,” he said, adding that police and villagers are also involved in the operation.
Sabah’s west coast has been hit by heavy rain over the past week, triggering flash floods and landslides, some of which cut off the Penampang-Tambunan road.
A disaster emergency was declared at 7.30pm on Thursday, with 409 people from 110 families sent to relief centres in Penampang and south-western Beaufort district.
