KUALA LUMPUR: The number of victims affected by floods and landslides in Sabah has surged to 2,533 as of 12pm today, compared with 428 recorded yesterday.
National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) director-general Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah said the victims, comprising 668 families, have been placed in 20 temporary evacuation centres (PPS), up from only four centres that were opened yesterday.
“The three worst-hit districts are Penampang with 910 victims, Membakut with 611 and Putatan with 456,” he said in a statement today.
Abdul Halim said 13 fatalities have been recorded due to landslides in Sabah so far.
“Seven deaths occurred in Kota Kinabalu and five in Papar on Sept 15, while one was reported in Penampang on Sept 12,” he said.
He also said the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) reported the highest daily rainfall on Sept 15 was recorded in Beaufort with 127.4mm, followed by Kota Kinabalu (122.8mm) and Sandakan (49.4mm).
He said weather conditions in Sabah remain fair today, with cumulative rainfall from midnight until noon recorded in radar images.
“As of 10am today, the Moyog River in Penampang was at alert level, while the Padas River in Keningau was at caution level, although both showed a downward trend, according to the Drainage and Irrigation Department.
“The six districts officially declared disaster-affected are Beaufort (flood, Sept 9), Penampang (flood and landslide, Sept 11), Tawau (fire, Sept 12), Papar (flood and landslide, Sept 15), Membakut (flood, Sept 15) and Putatan (flood, Sept 15).
“Malaysia is now at the tail end of the Southwest Monsoon, which began on May 10. The weakening of winds has encouraged convective cloud formation, with some areas recording more than 80mm of rain per day.
“Weather models show that wind convergence is expected to persist over eastern Sabah until Sept 18, potentially causing thunderstorms with heavy rain for extended periods.
“Squall lines bringing thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong winds are also likely in western Peninsular Malaysia, western Sabah and northern Sarawak in the early morning.
“Thunderstorms and rain are also expected in the interior and eastern parts of Peninsular Malaysia, eastern Sabah and Sarawak in the afternoons and evenings until Sept 22,” he said.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
