KUALA LUMPUR – The monsoon-driven flood crisis in Sabah has taken a turn for the worse as heavy rainfall continues to batter the state. As of Wednesday morning, three additional districts—Sipitang, Sook, and Beaufort—have officially been hit by flash floods, forcing local authorities to expand their emergency operations and activate more relief centers to handle the growing number of evacuees.
The Sabah State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN) Secretariat reported that the situation escalated rapidly in the early hours of the day. To mitigate the risk to lives, rescue teams have been deployed to assist in the evacuation of families from low-lying areas that were quickly inundated by rising river levels.
In response to the flash floods in the southwest and interior regions, the government has established four new primary relief hubs. In the district of Sipitang, two temporary evacuation centers (PPS) were opened at the Mesapol Mini Hall and the Sekolah Kebangsaan Padang Berampah Hall.
In the interior district of Sook, authorities have directed affected residents to the SLDB Dalit Gana Hall. Meanwhile, in Beaufort, which is frequently prone to flooding due to its geographical location, the Selagon Permanent Evacuation Center (PPK) has been fully activated. Officials have emphasized that the evacuation process is still highly active, with more residents expected to be registered at these centers as the day progresses.
While new districts are just beginning to deal with the deluge, the northern district of Pitas remains the epicenter of the disaster. Despite a slight lull in rain in some parts, floodwaters have yet to recede, leaving 1,695 victims from 861 families stranded in five separate evacuation centers.
The prolonged displacement of these families has put a strain on local resources, though the Secretariat assures that food supplies and medical assistance are being distributed consistently.
With Sipitang and Beaufort situated on the southwest coast and Sook located in the interior, the floods are now affecting a significant portion of the state’s southern corridor. Disaster management officials are maintaining a high state of alert, as weather patterns remain unpredictable.
Residents living near riverbanks and in flood-prone valleys are strongly urged to keep their belongings in high places and evacuate immediately if instructed by the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) or the Fire and Rescue Department. Authorities are also monitoring road conditions, as several village routes have become impassable for smaller vehicles, potentially isolating certain communities.
The state government continues to coordinate with various agencies to ensure that all PPS and PPK facilities are equipped with basic necessities, including clean water and hygiene kits, as Sabah braces for the possibility of further rainfall in the coming days.
