KOTA KINABALU: Kinabatangan has experienced its worst floods in eight years, with water levels surpassing the danger threshold and forcing evacuations across multiple villages.

As of 11am on Saturday (Feb 8), the Civil Defence Force (APM) reported that 70 families from two villages remain in temporary relocation centres, with 43 families (173 people) at SK Bukit Garam and 27 families (103 people) at SK Sukau.

He confirmed that water levels in Pekan Kinabatangan are receding but remain at dangerous levels. As of 10am on Saturday, the water level in Kinabatangan stands at 10.99 metres, remaining above the 10.00-metre warning threshold, though showing a slow downward trend.

However, in Kampung Bilit, floodwaters have just started to rise, prompting response teams from the police, APM, and Fire and Rescue Department to assess the situation. If necessary, villagers will be relocated to SK Sukau.

Ahmad Roslan said that this is the most severe flooding in Kinabatangan in the past eight years, surpassing previous floods in 2010.

“For the past eight years, we have only conducted flood monitoring, as water levels never exceeded the danger threshold. But this time, it has remained high, leading to the opening of relief centres for the first time,” he said.

He added that Kinabatangan’s floodwaters are receding slowly, a phenomenon known locally as ‘banjir termenung’—where water lingers instead of draining quickly.

“We expect a slight rise in water levels due to overflow from the Keningau river system, but based on current weather patterns, it is unlikely to reach critical levels,” he said.

APM continues to monitor the situation while distributing food baskets to evacuees. Authorities are closely tracking water levels, with response teams on standby as flood conditions evolve.

For some residents, this is the worst flood they have seen in decades.

Juliani Jimes, 51, an evacuee at SK Sukau, said the last time Kinabatangan experienced flooding this severe was in 1995.

“Back then, it was even worse, but after that, either there were no floods or they weren’t this serious. This time, the situation is really bad,” she said.

Juliani and her extended family, five families in total, were forced to evacuate from their village. However, her husband decided to stay behind.

“He wanted to take care of our house. Of course, I worry about his safety, but I trust that he knows what he’s doing,” she said.

She added that they had been monitoring the water levels and were prepared to evacuate when the time came.

“When we saw the water rising, we packed our things and got ready to leave. Thankfully, APM arrived just in time to rescue us. We weren’t in immediate danger, but we were already stranded and couldn’t go anywhere,” she said.

Flooding has also impacted eco-tourism operators in Kampung Bilit, an area known for nature retreats and river tours. While there have been no reports of stranded tourists, authorities have reminded resort operators to prepare for relocation if water levels continue to rise.

Sukau Rainforest Lodge and Tanini Kinabatangan, two popular destinations in the area, confirmed that their operations remain unaffected, with tours continuing as usual but had to cancel the scheduled river cruises.

Kinabatangan is a district in eastern Sabah, famous for its vast floodplains, the Kinabatangan River, and rich biodiversity, making it a renowned wildlife sanctuary and a popular tourist hotspot for nature and eco-tourism.

On Friday (Aug 8), Kinabatangan MP and Lamag assemblyman Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin visited the affected areas to assess the situation and distribute aid. He surveyed flood-hit villages, including Pangkalan, Kampung Muhibbah, and Kampung Mengaris in Sukau, and called for continued assistance for affected communities.

"Some villages were not just hit by floods but completely cut off due to road access being submerged. We have already provided assistance to these areas and will propose to Nadma (National Disaster Management Agency) that they also be considered for future aid."

KUANTAN: The Transport Ministry’s Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has completed its investigations at the site where a helicopter crashed on landing at Batu 9, Jalan Lama Bentong-Kuala Lumpur.

Bentong district police chief Supt Zaiham Mohd Kahar said the bureau completed its on-site work at around 3.30pm yesterday.

“I can only confirm that AAIB was present at the crash site, conducted its investigation and has concluded it. As for the aircraft wreckage, my team and AAIB have handed it over to MHS Aviation,” he told Bernama.

KUALA LUMPUR, 8 Februari- Seramai 3,921 orang daripada 1,325 keluarga terjejas banjir di Sarawak, setakat pukul 6.00 pagi tadi.

Jumlah berkenaan meningkat sedikit berbanding 3,920 orang daripada 1,322 keluarga, tengah malam tadi.

Portal Bencana Pusat Kawalan Bencana Negara (NDCC), Agensi Pengurusan Bencana Negara (NADMA) memaklumkan sebanyak 21 pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS) masih diaktifkan di 12 daerah negeri itu.

"Bintulu kekal menjadi daerah paling teruk dilanda banjir; melibatkan 1,295 orang terjejas.

"Ini diikuti Selangau, 784 orang dan Mukah, 446 orang," menurut kenyataan tersebut.

Sementara di Sabah, angka penduduk dipindahkan ke PPS kekal 420 orang daripada 106 keluarga, setakat pukul 6.00 pagi tadi.

Ia membabitkan lima PPS di negeri itu.

"Daerah terjejas adalah Kinabatangan, dengan menempatkan 276 orang di PPS, Keningau (132 orang) dan Tambunan (12 orang)," menurut kenyataan berkenaan.

SEGAMAT: Sebanyak 76 keluarga di kawasan Parlimen Sekijang yang terjejas akibat ribut pada November lalu, menerima Bantuan Wang Ihsan (BWI) membabitkan peruntukan berjumlah RM76,000, hari ini.

Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri (Wilayah Persekutuan), Dr Zaliha Mustafa, berkata setiap keluarga terbabit memperoleh bantuan RM1,000 sebagai sokongan kewangan untuk meringankan beban mereka.

Beliau yang juga Ahli Parlimen Sekijang berkata, Kerajaan MADANI bukan saja komited mempercepatkan bantuan kepada mangsa bencana, malah turut memperkukuh sistem amaran awal, usaha mitigasi serta kesiapsiagaan dalam menghadapi fenomena cuaca ekstrem yang semakin kerap berlaku.

"Saya turun padang sejurus kejadian ribut itu bagi menilai sendiri keadaan mangsa serta mendengar keluhan mereka.

"Saya juga segera berbincang dengan Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yang merangkap Menteri bertanggungjawab kepada Agensi Pengurusan Bencana Negara (NADMA), bagi memastikan bantuan ini dapat disalurkan secepat mungkin," katanya pada majlis penyerahan BWI berkenaan di Dewan Komuniti, Pejabat Daerah Segamat.

Dr Zaliha turut memaklumkan bahawa garis panduan BWI oleh NADMA telah dikemas kini bagi meluaskan skop penerima bantuan, hasil perbincangan bersama Ahmad Zahid pada November lalu.

"Sebelum ini, bantuan berkenaan hanya diberi kepada mangsa banjir tetapi kini turut merangkumi mangsa bencana ribut dan banjir kilat.

"Ini adalah langkah proaktif kerajaan dalam usaha memastikan bantuan sampai kepada lebih ramai rakyat yang memerlukan.

"Kita juga berharap inisiatif ini dapat mengurangkan beban penerima serta memberikan keyakinan kepada rakyat bahawa kerajaan sentiasa prihatin terhadap kebajikan mereka," katanya.

Dalam pada itu, beliau meminta masyarakat lebih berwaspada dan peka terhadap amaran cuaca memandangkan kejadian ribut dan bencana alam semakin kerap berlaku akibat perubahan iklim.

"Pada masa sama, Kerajaan MADANI akan terus memperkukuhkan sistem pengurusan bencana bagi memastikan setiap mangsa mendapat bantuan dengan pantas dan adil," katanya.