KOTA KINABALU: The eight flood relief centres in Kota Belud district, housing over 2,132 villagers remained open as of 4.30pm, as plans to let them return home are being considered.
District officer Abdul Gari Itam said based on better weather and receding water level, they might propose to close the centres later today.
“The situation has improved and many parents want to return to their houses as their children have school semester examinations tomorrow.
“However, we prioritise on safety and we will continue to monitor. The water level at Sungai Kadamaian is at normal while Sg Tempasuk and Sg Abai is at precautionary level,” he said when contacted.
Kota Belud was dry on Saturday night and this morning, but intermittent rain started at noon.
Meanwhile in Tuaran district, the centre at SMK Sri Nangka school hall was reopened at 2pm.
The centre was reactivated as seven families (27 individuals) from Kampung Indai found their homes were still flooded.
In Kota Kinabalu, 34 people from nine families were put up at the sports complex hall in Penampang district after landslide hit Kampung Kolam Damai, Bukit Padang Luyang.
The evacuees, however, will be moved to Dewan Sri Kepayan in the state capital tomorrow.
The landslide incident which occurred on Friday morning, saw three houses damaged and buried. It was learnt that nearby houses were also unsafe for occupation as there were soil movements.
On related developments, Sabah Parks director Dr Jamili Nais in his social media account updated that the landslide that occurred at the Mount Kinabalu foothill on Saturday afternoon was not dangerous.
Yesterday at 3.45pm authorities were alerted of the incident at Ulu Sungai Mesilou 2 in Kampung Mesilou there, which had triggered panic amongst locals residing at the foothill.
The landslide comprising of soil and boulders was partly attributed to the continuous heavy rain for the past few days, but Jamili yesterday said rockslide was expected from time to time after the earthquake two years ago as part of the mountain stabilisation process.
“The Sabah Parks rangers just came from the rockslide area in Mesilau inside the Kinabalu Park with a joint survey team comprising police, fire and rescue department personnel and civil defence department personnel.
“The incident was found to be a small landslide, far from any village settlement and not dangerous,” he shared in his Facebook and Twitter postings this afternoon.