Flood victims in Sabah doubled overnight

By Olivia Miwil - June 29, 2020 @ 8:49am

KOTA KINABALU: Flood victims seeking shelter at relief centres have doubled overnight in Sabah.

As at 8am, the number of evacuees was at 1,007 compared to 390 yesterday, as one more district becomes inundated by the floods.

Beaufort is the 11th district affected after Penampang, Putatan, Papar, Membakut, Tuaran, Kota Belud, Pitas, Kota Marudu, Tenom and Keningau.

According to the state Civil Defence department, there are now 13 relief centres operating, accommodating 307 families from 132 villages.

Meanwhile, in Tuaran, Kiulu, Tourism Association chairman Mejin Meginggow said that more than 10 tour operators were affected by the floods.

"It is the second flooding (this month), but it was worse during the weekend as we incurred more losses.

"On Saturday, the water gushed out and washed away our property. It also damaged roads that lead to tourist destinations in Kiulu," he told the New Straits Times, adding that the losses were estimated to be around RM50,000.

Mejin, who is also the founder of Borneo Outreach Camp, said he had just recently finished renovating the premises with hopes to revive the business as the government has allowed tourism activities to resume after months of shut down due to the Movement Control Order (MCO).

However, he said that the experience last Saturday had taught them to execute emergency evacuation plans for tourists in real situations.