RESCUE teams in Penampang were left without heavy machinery during a landslide rescue operation, even as the district declared a state of flood disaster after days of torrential rain.
A landslide struck a two-storey semi-permanent house in Kg Sarapung on Thursday evening, trapping two occupants.
One woman was pulled out alive with minor injuries, but a 97-year-old man was later found dead on Friday.
Firefighters said they had struggled to reach the site as rising floodwater cut off major roads on Thursday evening.
Firemen walked 3km on foot before beginning search efforts.
“Based on our assessment at the location, the operation required the use of an excavator,” the Fire and Rescue Department said in its incident report.
“A request was made through the District Disaster Management Committee. However, the machinery never arrived,” the report stated.
Instead, Fire and Rescue personnel were forced to use shovels, chainsaws and hand tools to dig through timber and through the mud.
The victim was eventually found dead on Friday 10.30 am and it took another few more minutes to remove the body.
The victim had to be carried nearly a kilometre by firefighters, policemen and villagers.
The District Disaster Management Committee, chaired by Penampang assistant district officer Noemi Dyena John Tren, confirmed at 7.30pm on Friday that a flood disaster had been declared.
“Based on reports and information received from agencies on the ground, it is hereby declared that a flood disaster has occurred in the district of Penampang,” she said.
Currently Penampang has no district officer and a municipal council president.
Three evacuation centres were opened at the Penampang Sports Complex, SMK Datuk Peter Mojuntin and SK St Paul Kolopis.
Hundreds of families were moved to safety as parts of Donggongon town were submerged for the third time in 10 days.
Several roads, including Jalan St Michael, Jalan St Joseph and Jalan Kolopis, were cut off to regular traffic, further complicating access for rescuers.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department has forecast thunderstorms and heavy rain to continue in Penampang, Putatan, Papar and several other districts until 13 September. - September 13, 2025
