KOTA MARUDU:
The flood water which hit the district and forced the evacuation of over 200 families on Saturday had subsided. However, the affected victims have been advised to remain at the evacuation centre until the situation has recovered fully. District Officer Luvita Koisun stated this yesterday when asked to comment on the flood situation at the area. “Even though the water level of both rivers here is decreasing, the families at the relief centre were advised to stay there until the situation is safe for them,” she said. At press time yesterday, the number of families evacuated to the relief centre increased to 226 from 13 villages compared 110 families from nine villages on Saturday. However, no incident was reported. Luvita, who is also chairman of the District Natural Disaster Committee, advised all the affected villages to be alert for any unexpected situation. “The Meteorological Department has forecast that there will be heavy rain in Kota Marudu, Kudat and the West Coast areas for the next two days until Feb 18 night. So we advise families at the relief centre not to return to their homes yet,” she said. Sabah is experiencing the late stage of the northeast monsoon season which blows from November to March. The current wet spell experienced by the State is due to the strengthening of the northeast winds coupled with the presence of a low pressure system over the Sulu Sea. Villages that were badly affected were Kampung Marudu Laut, Kampung Kantawayon Darat, Kampung Tambun, Kampung Sungoi, Kampung Taginambur, Kampung Pancur (Langkon Lama), Kampung Marudu Darat, Kampung Lotong, Kampung Pancur Lama, Kampung Balagatan, Kampung Parong, Kampung Tandek and Kampung Tagin.
