KOTA KINABALU – Dangerously high tides this year have not only caused floods but destroyed homes of many residents in coastal places like Sandakan and Pulau Gaya in Sabah.
According to the Sabah Civil Defence Force, a total of 1,363 victims and 316 families had been evacuated to temporary relief centres as of 4pm today.
Pitas district is the worst affected with 721 victims (163 families) now relocated to six relief centres.
Other affected districts are Kota Kinabalu (54 victims), Kota Belud (212 victims) and Sandakan (376 victims).
A total of ten temporary relief centres are currently active in the state.
About 63 families from Kg Forest in Sandakan lost their homes on Christmas eve last night as their wooden-stilt houses erected on water were destroyed by a strong wave and an unusually high tide.
Kg Forest is a squatter settlement which hosts a mix of foreigners and local residents.
A total of five bridges in Kg Tinusa 2 were also destroyed by the abnormal tide, putting 20 houses around the area at risk last night.
However, according to the Sandakan Fire and Rescue Department’s report, the residents there returned home after the situation was safe.
In Pulau Gaya, an island off Kota Kinabalu, several houses were destroyed by the high tide, affecting 15 families, comprising 54 victims, at about 4pm yesterday.
The Sabah Civil Defence Force is currently inspecting at-risk areas, including Tamparuli (Jambatan Lama and Kg Bawang), Tuaran (Kg Sahbandar and PKOD), Kunak (Kg Pangkalan, Kg Kunak Jaya and Kg Pangi), Pulau Banggi, and several villages in Kudat and Pitas.
No casualties have been reported from these incidents so far.
Meanwhile, Sandakan police chief Abdul Fuad Abdul Malek advised residents in the coastal areas to vacate their homes before 6pm today as a precaution.
He said an unusually high tide is expected to be in effect again tonight and tomorrow night.
The Malaysia Meteorological Department forecasted thunderstorms and heavy rain in almost all districts in Sabah until the end of the year. – The Vibes, December 25, 2022
