KOTA KINABALU — The number of flood victims in Sabah continued to climb sharply on Thursday, with the total reaching 4,458 people as of 4 pm, according to the Sabah State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN) Secretariat. This marked a significant increase from 3,617 victims recorded at noon, underscoring the severity of the ongoing flooding in the state.
All victims, spanning 1,505 families, are currently being housed at 22 temporary relief centres operating across five districts. The interior district of Tenom remains the hardest hit, accounting for the highest number of evacuees in Sabah. As of the latest update, the number of victims in Tenom soared to 2,406 individuals from 795 families, with all sheltering at 13 relief centres in the area.
In the west coast districts, Beaufort also saw an increase in flood victims, rising to 1,231 people from 384 families. These evacuees are being accommodated at several centres, including the Selagon Permanent Relief Centre, the Banir State Constituency Hall relief centre, and the newly opened Bisaya Arts and Culture Hall.
Meanwhile, the numbers in three other affected districts remained stable compared to the midday figures. Sipitang is home to 421 people (176 families), Membakut has 321 victims (125 families), and Sook continues to have 79 evacuees (25 families). Across these five districts, a total of 146 villages have been affected by the floodwaters.
Despite the sharp increase in displaced residents, authorities reported that no casualties have been recorded so far in the latest wave of flooding. Efforts by state and local agencies, supported by volunteers, continue to focus on providing shelter, food, clean water, and medical assistance to those affected.
Local emergency services and the Civil Defence Force have been mobilised to assist with evacuation and relief operations. In addition, non‑governmental organisations and community groups are stepping in to deliver essential supplies and support to families whose homes have been inundated.
Meteorological authorities have issued ongoing weather advisories as heavy rainfall persists across Sabah, elevating the risk of further flooding in low‑lying and riverine settlements. Residents in high‑risk areas have been advised to remain vigilant and follow instructions from disaster management officials.
The flood situation has also impacted essential services, with reports indicating temporary closures of some public offices and schools in affected districts. Emergency planning teams are working to ensure continuity of key services while recovery operations remain underway.
