Floods: Final group of evacuees in Sabah return home

KOTA KINABALU: The last 54 displaced residents sheltering at the Sekolah Kebangsaan Sukau relief centre in Kinabatangan were allowed to return home on Sunday (Feb 16).

The flood victims, from 13 families across two villages, packed up their belongings after Kinabatangan district officer Willey Lampaki officially declared the relief centre closed at 11.05am.

Most had been staying at the centre for the past two weeks after intermittent heavy rain submerged their low-lying villages.

“Following recommendations and assessments by the Kinabatangan District Disaster Committee, based on field monitoring conducted by the district police, Fire and Rescue Department, and Civil Defence Force (APM), I hereby declare the closure of the SK Sukau relief centre,” said Lampaki, who is also the Kinabatangan District Disaster Management Committee chairman.

He added that the centre was closed after an inspection confirmed the affected residents’ homes were safe for reoccupation.

These were the last flood victims in Sabah to return home, from thousands who were affected by the floods.

At its peak, Kota Marudu recorded the highest number of displaced victims at 2,360.