House call: Civil Defence Force personnel checking on the occupants of a house in Kota Marudu following continuous heavy rain.
KOTA KINABALU: For the third time this year, heavy rain has triggered major floods in Sandakan, Beluran, Pitas, Kota Marudu and Paitan, forcing hundreds of people into temporary shelters.
Authorities warn that more evacuations are expected as water levels continue to rise in flood-hit areas.
Experts say back-to-back floods are worsening due to climate change and shifting monsoon patterns.
Universiti Malaysia Sabah Natural Disaster Research Centre director Assoc Prof Dr Carolyn M. Payus said the compounded effect of recurring floods is making the natural disaster more severe.
“The water from the previous floods has not fully receded and now it is raining again. The intensity is also quite high and climate change is making it worse,” she said.
Sabah Meteorological Department director Amirzudi Hashim confirmed that the northeast monsoon remains active and will continue until the end of March.
“At present, the continuous heavy rain warning issued by MetMalaysia is expected to remain in effect until March 21 for several areas in Sabah,” he said.
Amirzudi added that rainfall for the 2024/2025 monsoon season is projected to be higher than previous years.
The first major flood of the year struck in late January, with multiple districts affected by continuous heavy rain.
Kota Marudu saw its worst flood in decades, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate while Beluran and Pitas were also severely hit, with hundreds displaced as rivers overflowed.
Sandakan experienced flash floods in low-lying areas, leading to road closures and evacuations.
The second wave of flooding came early this month, worsening conditions before communities could recover.
At its peak, more than 4,500 people were displaced across affected districts with multiple relief centres activated.
Sandakan, Beluran and Pitas saw rising river levels due to prolonged rain, while Kota Marudu experienced another round of severe flooding.
Now, just weeks later, Sabah is once again flooded, raising concerns about the state’s flood preparedness and climate resilience.
The authorities in all affected districts are bracing for further evacuations as floodwater continues to rise.
Pitas, one of the worst-hit areas earlier this year, has now been officially declared a disaster area, confirmed district disaster management committee chairman Asdie @ Mohd Faizal Hussin.
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