Villagers claim Lahad Datu hit by worst floods since 2006

LAHAD DATU: Villagers living in Lahad Datu, especially Kampung Sepagaya here described last nights floods as the worst to hit the area since 2006.

Former Kampung Sepagaya village head Nasir Tunggara, 48, said though people living in the area had anticipated the floods by moving their belongings to higher ground, they did not expect the floods to be worst than what they had expected.

"My house is built on high stilts but the water level was so high that it was just 8 inches away from entering my house. This is the third time our village has been hit by floods.

"Yesterday, villagers were on the look out for any eventualities following heavy rain and fear of the rising water level. Thank God, the weather condition has improved and water has started receding today," he told Bernama, here today.

Yesterday, four hours of continuous rain resulted in several villagers inundated by flood waters, especially Kampung Manau, Batu 7 Jalan Silam, Kampung Sepagaya Tengah, Kampung Sepagaya Hilir and Kampung Busul, here.

A Temporary Flood Relief (PPS) centre was opened at 11pm last night at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Terusan and as of this morning, 18 victims from three families had been evacuated to the centre.

Nasir hoped the government would consider the plight of the villagers and carry out work to widen and deepen Sungai Sepagaya to prevent the river from overflowing and causing floods in the surrounding areas.

"Villagers here have often voiced their opinion to leaders in the area but due to changes in the political circle, the plight of the villagers is often ignored. Therefore, I and the villagers here hope the project can be carried out soon and the roads upgraded as well," said Nasir.

A flood victim from Kampung Manau Batu 7, Dony Diansoy, 46, said when the villages were affected by floods in the past, the water level was normally knee deep but yesterday's water level rose above the waist level.

"We are very concerned because there are many children in the villages and their safety is very important. Yesterday, fortunately officers from the Fire and Rescue Department and police arrived in time to rescue us and took us safely to the PPS," he said when met at the Dewan SMK Terusan.

-- BERNAMA