27 families evacuated, seven schools closed due to floods in Pitas, Sabah

Twenty-seven families in Kampung Rukom Ulu, here, were evacuated this afternoon after their village was flooded following continuous rain since last night.

Malaysia Civil Defence Force, Sabah director Col. Muliadi Al-Hamdi Ladin said the victims comprising 25 men, 27 women and 83 children were moved to Sekolah Kebangsaan Rukom about 12.45pm today.

He said nine other villages in the area were also inundated by flood waters when two rivers nearby, Sungai Kebatasan and Sungai Bengkoka, overflowed their banks due to the incessant rain since 10pm yesterday.

"The water level in Sungai Kebatasan was at 6.15 metres, above the danger level at 6.0 metres, while Sungai Bengkoka showed a reading of 4.0 metres.

"The affected villages are Kampung Bilangau Besar, Kampung Sinasak Batu, Kampung Sibaung, Kampung Kusilad, Kampung Pandan Mendamai, Kampung Salimpodon Darat, Kampung Pinggan-Pinggan, Kampung Indah and Kampung Dandun," he said in a statement.

Muliadi said seven main roads in the area were only passable for four-wheel-drive and heavy vehicles.

"We are monitoring the affected villages and other areas at risk of floods," he said.

Meanwhile, seven primary schools in Pitas were closed today due to the floods. Six of the schools were closed because their access roads were inundated while one was used as a relief centre for flood victims.

State Education Department director, Datuk Maimunah Suhaibul said the schools involved were Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Pandan Mandamai, SK Sosop, SK Pinggan-Pinggan, SK Mandurian, SK Pinapak, SK Nibang and SK Rukom with a total of 1,203 pupils and 131 teachers.

She said school heads and principals could temporarily close their schools due to floods by informing about it to the department. - BERNAMA