Clogged drains cause flash floods in Kota Belud
KOTA BELUD: Clogged drains were the cause of flash floods in a number of areas here yesterday afternoon.
Civil Defence Department Sabah director Colonel Mulliadia AlHamdi Ladin disclosed that as of 8pm yesterday, water had risen to warning levels in a number of areas including in Kota Belud town where the level reached 0.3 metre.
Sensors in a few areas also showed water had risen to warning levels including in Kampung Sembirai where water had risen up to 5.45 metres (dangerous level is at 5.5 metres) and up to 1.89 metres in Kampung Piasau, where the dangerous level is set at 2.2 metres, he said.
He added that nine villages were also affected, namely Kg Bobot, Kg Sembirai, Kg Kota Belud, Kg Wokok, Kg Menunggui, and four others where rescue personnel had to start evacuating villagers, including Kg Siasai, Kg Linau, Kg Ijuk and Kg Gunding.
However, said Mulliadi, most roads were still passable although the water levels were causing traffic to be slow, including the Lebak Moyoh roundabout, the roundabout near Public Bank, the town field, and the Kudat bypass where flood waters inundated 80 to 100 metres of the road.
“The flood was caused by clogged drains and sand sedimentation brought from the Siasai Dundau River down to the Abai River due to the previous episode of flood in the area, causing the water to recede much slower.
“Affected roads also caused a heavy traffic congestion from Kg Paka-Paka up to the Lebak Moyoh roundabout. Vehicles are moving slowly but all roads are still passable,” he said.
Monitoring works, added Mulliadi, had been conducted since 2.30pm yesterday to ensure the safety of road users and the public.
“We have also been working together with the police to help control traffic and standing by to assist those whose vehicles may be affected by the flood,” he said.
A former deputy federal minister who hails from Kota Belud, Datuk VK Liew, said that flooding in the district had been going on for many years without any concrete action taken to address it.
He particularly mentioned the newly completed recreation park at the town field which was also inundated by flood yesterday, pointing out the poor planning of building a park in such a flood-prone area.
“The KB (Kota Belud) town field is prone to flooding, and it has been happening since before Independence. To build anything on a flood-prone area is not a sound idea.
“There is a river known as Gurung Gurung next to it, and it has become narrow over the years because of the massive developments within the town area.
“The authorities have been talking about rescue works for so many decades, yet all we hear is just talk but no concrete action,” said Liew, who was also stalled in traffic in one of the affected areas yesterday.
He added that the long-standing issue had caused inconveniences to the people here, having to bear costs caused by the flood to their properties.
“It’s not something new. It has happened and it is happening almost every year-end. Many kampung folks have been facing the same problems year in and year out. And many private and public properties are destroyed. Worst still, despite the massive floods, the kampung folks are crying for clean water which is wanting,” he lamented.
Nonetheless, added Liew, he has faith in federal ministers especially those who hail from the district such as Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Salleh Said Keruak, who will look into the decade-long issue.
“He has helped in many ways to ensure KB developed to what it is today, and I’ve no doubt he will continue to do so. Together, I believe we can resolve this long outstanding issue,” he said.