118 evacuated amid Penampang floods

Authorities evacuated 118 flood victims from 41 families to four relief centres in Penampang this morning after flooding caused by heavy overnight rain.

Penampang district disaster management committee chairman Noemi Dyena John Tren officially declared the flooding a disaster at 10.40pm yesterday, based on reports and information from agencies on the ground.

The Sabah state disaster management committee said in a statement today that the Penampang sports complex relief centre is sheltering 40 people from seven families, while the Huguan Siou Hall centre is housing 31 victims from 11 families.

Twenty-nine victims from 16 families are sheltering at the Penampang parish hall, while 18 from seven families are at St Paul Kolopis.

“The water level of Sungai Moyog is currently at a critical 9.12m, exceeding the danger level,” the committee said.

The flooding affected 15 villages while 12 roads are inundated but passable.