KOTA KINABALU: Residents of Kampung Rampayan Laut, here, described Saturday’s flash flood as the worst in more than 50 years, after water levels rose rapidly to waist height and inundated their homes.
Jalinah Md Jali, 62, said the floodwater came so quickly that many people could not save their belongings.
“The water usually does not enter the house. But yesterday (Saturday), it reached waist height and flooded our homes,” she said while clearing mud and water from the living room.
Jalinah said the furniture and electrical items such as refrigerators were damaged. “I have lived here for more than 60 years and have never seen a flood this severe.”
She hopes that local representatives and agencies would find long-term solutions to the flood issue. Jali Jawi, 52, said Saturday’s flood was much severe than usual.
He said the water level began rising around 5.30pm on Saturday and started receding early yesterday.
A check by Bernama found that floodwaters had receded to ankle level from waist level, with most of the area covered in thick mud. Residents were busy cleaning their homes and drying salvaged items.
The Sabah Disaster Management Committee said the number of flood victims rose from 282 on Saturday to 495 yesterday morning, with all of them sheltering at two centres.
In Kota Kinabalu, 180 victims from 46 families are placed at the Al-Munir Mosque Hall in Kampung Darau, while in Beaufort, 315 victims from 113 families are at the Selagon Hall Permanent Evacuation Centre.
THE Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) said Kelantan is expected to be affected by another round of floods starting today.
This follows the issuance of a continuous rain warning by the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) yesterday.
DID’s National Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre said floods were likely to occur from today to Thursday in 10 districts, with river basins.
They are Tumpat, Pasir Mas, Bachok, Machang, Kota Baru, Pasir Puteh, Jeli, Tanah Merah, Kuala Krai and Gua Musang, where the Sungai Kelantan, Sungai Golok, Sungai Semerak, Sungai Kemasin, Sungai Lebir, Sungai Galas and Sungai Nenggiri basins are located, respectively.
“Flood warnings will be updated if significant rainfall persists in these basins. “The forecast floods may occur earlier or later than the expected dates."
Disaster management agencies and residents, especially those living in high-risk areas, are urged to remain vigilant and to comply with the authorities’ instructions. The public is encouraged to obtain information and warnings through the publicinfobanjir.water.gov.my portal or the PublicInfoBanjir Facebook page.
Pusat Pemindahan Kekal Bencana di Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Matang menjadi yang pertama siap di Terengganu membabitkan hampir RM1 juta.
Ketua Pengarah Agensi Pengurusan Bencana Negara (NADMA), Meor Ismail Meor Akim, berkata pembinaan pusat berkenaan memperkukuh kesiapsiagaan menghadapi bencana banjir di Pantai Timur.
Katanya, sebelum ini dua Pusat Pemindahan Kekal Bencana siap di Johor, yang menawarkan kemudahan lebih selesa kepada mangsa banjir.
“Pusat Pemindahan Kekal Bencana SMK Matang mampu menempatkan lebih 200 mangsa dalam satu masa membabitkan tujuh bilik penginapan, hasil baik pulih asrama lelaki sedia ada dengan kos RM907,000.
“Kerja naik taraf bermula Julai tahun lalu dengan kemudahan tandas, tandas Orang Kurang Upaya (OKU), bilik mencuci pakaian serta bilik rawatan.
“Turut disediakan laluan berbumbung, ruang permainan, stor yang boleh dijadikan pengkalan hadapan operasi serta sistem tangki septik,” katanya pada Majlis Penyerahan Kunci PPKB SMK Matang, semalam.
Manfaat ketika kecemasan
Yang turut hadir, Timbalan Ketua Setiausaha (Perancangan dan Pembangunan) Kementerian Pendidikan, Datuk Wan Hashim Wan Rahim.
Meor Ismail berkata, Pusat Pemindahan Kekal Bencana berkenaan bukan sahaja bagi kegunaan ketika musim banjir, malah boleh dimanfaatkan untuk tujuan kecemasan dan kebajikan.
Katanya, 12 lagi Pusat Pemindahan Kekal Bencana dalam pembinaan di seluruh negara. “Satu lagi Sekolah Kebangsaan Peradong, Manir, Kuala Terengganu dalam pembinaan dan dijangka siap Julai 2026,” katanya.
LABUAN: A flood mitigation programme was carried out by the Labuan Public Works Department (JKR) following continuous heavy rain and high tides at several villages and residential areas.
Its director, Mohd Faizul Ali Hanapiah, said the initiative was part of the department’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts carried out in several parts of the island.
The flood mitigation programme was initiated following reports of flooding in multiple locations, prompting the department to identify and prioritise the most affected areas for immediate intervention.
“During this current rainy season, combined with high tides, a number of villages and housing areas were affected.
“As part of our CSR, JKR personnel went down to the ground to assess the situation and implement mitigation measures where assistance is most urgently needed,” he told Bernama yesterday.
Mohd Faizul said 10 technical personnel from the department were mobilised for the purpose.
He added that the efforts were supported by machinery and equipment to carry out drainage clearing, desilting works and minor earthworks to improve water flow while reducing the risk of prolonged flooding.
The CSR activities were focused on Kg Sungai Labu’s beachfront, which was one of the areas identified as vulnerable due to its low-lying location and exposure to tidal influence during periods of intense rainfall, he added.
Mohd Faizul said that the initiative reflects the department’s commitment not only to infrastructure development but also to community well-being, particularly in assisting residents during challenging weather conditions.
“JKR will continue to monitor the situation and work closely with relevant agencies and local communities to ensure mitigation efforts are carried out efficiently, especially during the peak of the monsoon period,” he said.
Residents in affected areas were advised to remain vigilant and to report drainage or floodrelated issues to the authorities.
KOTA KINABALU: Residents of Kampung Rampayan Laut in Sabah are grappling with the aftermath of the worst flood in over 50 years.
Incessant rain on Saturday evening caused floodwaters to rise rapidly in the village, catching many residents off guard and leaving many homes submerged in waist-high water.
Jalinah Md Jali, 62, said many villagers were unable to save their belongings, unlike in previous flooding incidents. “During normal floods, the water would usually remain outside and did not enter the house.
“This is because the water has to overcome the front door barrier,” she told Bernama while cleaning mud and removing water from her living room.
“On Saturday, the water reached waist height,” Jalinah added. She did not have time to save her valuables and her furniture and electrical items were damaged.
“Initially, everyone thought it would be just a normal flood as the water level was low. “But the floodwaters rose very fast. I am very sad because I have lived here for over 60 years and have never seen a flood this severe,” she added.
Jalinah lamented that Kampung Rampayan Laut is now better known for frequent flooding than for development.
She said she hoped that local representatives and relevant agencies would find long-term solutions to flooding.
Another victim, Jali Jawi, 52, said the floodwaters came into the village from two different sources simultaneously.
“The flood was bigger and worse than before. The water came not just from the land but also from the sea,” he said.
He added that water began rising around 5.30pm and only receded early yesterday morning.
A check by Bernama revealed that floodwaters had receded to ankle level, with most of the area still covered in thick mud, making cleaning difficult.
Damaged furniture and household items carried away by the flood were scattered in front of several houses, while residents were busy removing mud from their homes and drying salvaged items.
According to the Sabah State Disaster Management Committee, the number of flood victims rose from 282 on Saturday to 495 yesterday morning. The victims are currently sheltered at two relief centres.
In Kota Kinabalu, 180 victims from 46 families are currently housed in a hall at the Al-munir Mosque, while 315 victims from 113 families in Beaufort are being sheltered at the Selagon Evacuation Centre.
