KOTA KINABALU, Sept 15 — At least 11 people have been confirmed dead and several more missing following a series of landslides triggered by continuous heavy rain across Sabah, as authorities brace for further flooding and damage.
Two of the worst incidents occurred in Inanam and Papar.
In Kampung Cenderakasih, Inanam, seven people, including four children aged between two and nine, have been confirmed dead after being buried in a landslide which also buried several houses in an incident that occurred at 9.15 this morning.
According to Kota Kinabalu District Police Chief Assistant Commissioner Kasim Muda, the three other victims were two women and a man aged between 25 and 50, while four men survived the incident.
He said all the victims were confirmed dead at the scene by medical officers, and their bodies were taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for further action.
In Papar, another landslide struck Kampung Mook, where at least two people died – a 38-year-old woman and her 11-year-old son.
Also in Papar, in Kampung Maragang Tuntul, a wooden house was buried at about 9.20am. A 32-year-old mother, her 11-year-old daughter and six-year-old son were reported missing. Two of them were recovered, but there has been no confirmation yet.
Elsewhere in Kota Kinabalu, social media posts are rife with reports of damage, from blocked roads, flooded homes and uprooted trees. Among the most serious is a slope collapse along Jalan Tun Fuad Stephen near the city from Bukit Bendera hitting a major access road, and uprooted trees in Sepanggar’s Kampung Unggun Jaya, blocking access roads.
While no casualties were reported in these incidents, Public Works crews have been deployed to clear the affected areas.
The State Disaster Management Committee reported that as of this morning, 415 flood victims from 113 families were seeking shelter at temporary evacuation centres in Beaufort and Penampang, with more expected as rainfall continues.
Several districts have since been declared unsafe, with the district disaster committee opening some 11 shelters for displaced villagers.
As of 4pm, the Civil Defence Force (APM) reported 804 people from 36 villages in Beaufort, Penampang, Tawau and Membakut had been evacuated to these shelters.
Several districts have since been declared unsafe, with the district disaster committee opening some 11 shelters for displaced villagers. — Picture courtesy of Bomba
Penampang recorded the highest number with 425 people from 100 families, while Membakut had 202 people from 54 families, Beaufort 177 people from 55 families, and Tawau 59 people from 11 families.
In light of the situation, the Sabah government has cancelled Malaysia Day celebrations tomorrow to redirect resources towards disaster response and relief.
