KINABATANGAN, April 5 (Bernama) -- A total of 127 residents from 29 families affected by floods in several villages here have been evacuated to the temporary relief centre (PPS) at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Bukit Garam as of 8 am today.
According to a statement from the Sabah Disaster Management Committee secretariat, the number has risen compared to only 14 residents from three families who sought shelter at the centre by midday yesterday.
"All those affected are residents from four flood-hit villages," the secretariat said.
On April 2, Kinabatangan was declared a flood disaster area following continuous rainfall and the Kinabatangan River water level rising to the danger level.
Seven villages in the district, located about 306 kilometres from Kota Kinabalu, have been affected by the floods. The relief centre at SK Bukit Garam has been operating since 6 pm on Wednesday.
Yesterday, the State Disaster Operations Control Centre issued an Evacuation Order under the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) Directive No. 1, officially declaring the area a red zone.
The action was taken following the refusal of some residents to evacuate to the relief centre despite the Kinabatangan River level exceeding the danger mark.
-- BERNAMA
