RANAU: The Ranau district office is preparing reports of Kundasang situation for the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) and relevant agencies.
District officer Tinus Manggam said its team is scheduled to visit the affected areas including Kampung Gorowot which went viral after a Perodua Kancil was swept away in a flash flood and fell into an embankment.
"A district office team was scheduled to visit the area today, following earlier assistance from the Ranau District Disaster Management Committee team under the Civil Defence Force (APM).
"For now, the road leading to Kampung Gorowot was completely cut off and inaccessible until it is repaired," he told the New Straits Times, adding for now there are about 20 houses and several homestays in that village which is about 2 kilometres from Kundasang town.
Kampung Gorowot villager Junaydie Sihan, 49, said incident happened after three days of rain which caused a blocked culvert to overflow.
The former Mountain Guides Association president added that the car was managed to be pulled out with the help of villagers and five cars from Kundasang Highland Four Wheel Drive Club.
The incident was part of a recent series of landslides and flash floods reported around Kundasang following continuous heavy rain.
In Kampung Pogun and Kampung Dumpiring Atas, a slope collapse about 25 metres high damaged the rear wall of a house on Oct 11. Other incidents included a landslide behind Surau Al-Taqwah in Kampung Dumpiring Bawah, while water mixed with rocks overflowed onto the main road connecting Kampung Pahu to Kampung Himbaan in Bundu Tuhan.
Previously, NST has reported the risks of major landslides following geological composition, intense weather, rapid development among others in Kundasang.
Malaysian Meteorological Department had also issued a statement on the monsoon transition phase is expected to begin on Oct 9, and continue until late October, which brings heavy rain.
As a precaution, Civil Defence department (APM) personnel and villagers covered the collapsed slope with a tarpaulin to prevent water from accumulating and reduce the risk of further soil erosion.
APM also monitored the surrounding area and advised residents living on slopes and in high-risk locations to watch for signs of ground movement and move to safer locations immediately if early signs of a landslide were detected.
At press time, it is learned that Sabah Mineral and Geosience Department is in the process of installing emergency warning services n Kundasang and surrounding area.
There will be a siren to warn the community. Locals will be informed of the warning via Whastapp group while agencies to be notified by email.
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