KOTA KINABALU – A landslide has been reported near Sabah’s popular highland destination, Kinabalu National Park, with police claiming that it may have been caused by non-stop rainfall over the last few days.
Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry permanent secretary Dr Jamili Nais confirmed that the landslide has damaged the park’s parking and rest-stop area.
No casualties were reported in the incident. A video posted on social media shows the entire parking lot area near the entrance caved down into the mountainside chasm.
In 2015, 18 hikers were killed and 21 injured at Mount Kinabalu after a 6.0-magnitude earthquake hit the state.
The deadly earthquake's epicentre was 15km north of Ranau, where the national park is located.
Landslides are common in Kundasang's hilly slopes, especially during rainy seasons.
Meanwhile, Ranau police chief Sammy Newton said a landslide of 150m in length, 100m in width and 200m in depth was discovered along kilometre 20 of the Ranau-Tamparuli road at 7.15am this morning.
“The landslide is believed to have been caused by continuous rainfall over the Ranau district in the last couple of days,” said Newton, adding however traffic flow was not disrupted.
The Ranau-Tamparuli road is one of the major roads connecting Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan and other Sabah East Coast districts.
The Public Works Department and the concessionaire responsible for road maintenance, Lintasan Resources, have been notified of the landslide.
In Beluran, police said another landslide occurred, damaging the workers’ quarters at the Paitan Water Treatment Plant.
Beluran police chief Kasim Muda also claimed the landslide was caused by the non-stop rains and subsequent flooding in recent days.
“The main road adjacent to the Paitan Water Treatment was also damaged due to the landslide. No workers were injured,” he said.
The incident also caused the road in the area cannot be used until repairs are done, he said. – The Vibes, January 20, 2021
