Malaysia: 22 Sabah schools close due to floods

MUGUNTAN VANAR The Star 18 Jan 17;

KOTA KINABALU: Twenty-two schools in Sabah’s northern Kota Marudu and Pitas districts were closed as heavy overnight rain triggered flooding in low-lying areas and cut off at least five main roads.

Some 145 people from three villages were evacuated to relief centres as flood waters continue to rise in the two districts.

Sabah Education Department director Datuk Maimunah Suhaibul said Wednesday some 6,000 pupils and students were affected by the school closure.

Among the schools closed in Kota Marudu were SK Langkon, SK Masalog, SK Ranau, SK Tumundu Salimandut, SK Pekan Kota Marudu, SK Mengaris, SK Mangaris, SK Koromoko, SJKC Khoi Ming, SK Tandek, SK Ongkilan, SK Timbang Batu, SK Temuno Teringai Data, SK Talantang 1, SK Bintasan and SMK Langkon.

The schools affected in neighbouring Pitas district were SK Pandan Mandamai, SK Pinapak, SK Mandurian, SK Nibang and SK Dandun.

Among the 12 worst hit villages were Kg Taripan, Kg Morion and Longob, where relief workers moved in to help trapped families out of their homes to send them to relief centres opened at community halls.

Five main roads into the villages were cut off and electricity supply was disrupted.

Sabah civil defence director Kol Muliadi Al-Hamdi Ladin told the media that the Sungai Bongon level was at 8.3m, past the 7.9m danger level, while Sungai Bandau is at the danger level of 6m.

The flood situation in Sabah’s central Beluran district has improved with only one village – Kg Jaya Bakti – reportedly still inundated, but the water is receding slowly.

Heavy rains trigger floods in northern Kota Marudu and Pitas
The Star 19 Jan 17;

KOTA KINABALU: Twenty-two schools in Sabah’s northern Kota Marudu and Pitas districts have been closed as heavy rains overnight triggered floods in low-lying areas and cut off at least five main roads.

Some 145 people from three villages were evacuated to relief centres as floodwaters continued to rise in the two districts.

Sabah Education Department director Datuk Maimunah Suhaibul said about 6,000 primary and secondary school students were affected by the closure.

Among the 12 worst-hit villages were Kampung Taripan, Kampung Morion and Longob, where relief workers moved in to assist trapped families out of their homes to relief centres and community halls.

The five main roads to the villages were cut off and electricity supply was disrupted due to the floods.

Earlier yesterday, state Civil Defence Department director Kol Muliadi Al-Hamdi Ladin told the media that the Sungai Bongon level was at 8.3m, above the 7.9m danger level, while Sungai Bandau was at the danger level of 6m.

He said there had been no evacuation as yet, although a relief centre was opened at Kampung Longob’s mini community hall since 8am.

The situation in Sabah’s central Beluran district had improved with only one village, Kampung Jaya Bakti, reportedly still flooded as water was receding slowly.

As of 4pm, 808 people from 159 families had been evacuated to relief centres. However, since noon, weather conditions had been improving with affected rivers dropping from danger levels recorded earlier.

Seventeen villages in Kota Marudu were affected by the floods.