Eight schools closed in Sabah due to flood

Eight schools at three districts in Sabah have been closed due to flood caused by continuous rain since early yesterday.

State education department director Datuk Jame Alip said 3,400 pupils wereaffected by the flood in Kota Kinabalu (SK St Cathrine, SK Gudon, SK Pulau Gaya, SK Rampayan and SK Natai); Papar (SK Tampasak Kinarut and SJKC Kin Kiau); and, Kota Belud (SK Lasau Titapon).

The schools will re-open as soon as the floods subside," he said in a statement here today.

Meanwhile, Penampang Fire and Rescue Department chief Jamaludin Hussin said 400 residents from Kampung Penampang Proper, Kampung Hungap, Kampung Tuavon and Kampung Tanaki in Penampang were affected by the flood.

He said the department had been directed to help affected school pupils and relocate affected residents to houses of relatives.

He said the Penampang District Office had opened a temporary relief centre at the Tun Fuad Community Hall.

Meanwhile, as of this afternoon, the water level at the Babagon Dam was at the 10-metre danger level. According to a survey, several areas around Penampang, including Donggongon town where government departments and agencies and shopping complexes were located, were inundated.

In a related development, a train service from Tanjung Aru to Beaufort was cancelled at 7.55am today, due to flood in Kawang Papar.