KOTA KINABALU: Flood conditions in several Sabah districts are gradually improving, with only three districts still recording evacuees at temporary relief centres as of 4pm Saturday (March 22).
According to a report from the Sabah State Disaster Management Committee secretariat, the Sandakan district has closed its relief centre, while some 209 people from 70 families remain at relief centres in Sipitang, Keningau, and Beaufort. This is a decrease from the over 1,000 people evacuated from flood areas in these districts on Friday (March 21).
However, the secretariat noted that low-lying, flood-prone Beaufort districts continued to see an increase, with 88 people from 21 families moved to the relief centre at Dun Banir community centre.
The number of evacuees in Keningau and Sipitang remained unchanged, with 31 families comprising 77 people in Sipitang and 44 people from 18 families in Keningau as of 4pm.
Following heavy rains since late Thursday (March 20), a total of seven districts were affected, with Beluran, Paitan, Kota Marudu, and Matunggong districts recovering from floods on Friday.
The southwestern and low-lying coastal Beaufort district saw firemen evacuating 22 people from 10 families in Kg Suasa at about noon Saturday, as they were hit by floods for the second time this month. The victims were sent to the relief centre.
Meteorologists are forecasting more rain over parts of Sabah in the coming days, with various agencies remaining on alert for any eventualities.
