SIPITANG: All the 32 evacuated flood victims from 11 families were allowed to return to their respective homes on Sunday (May 22).

       The Sabah State Disaster Management Committee in a statement on Sunday said the flood evacuation centre set up at Dewan Mini Mesapol, here, for the victims late on Saturday (May 21) evening was thus closed on Sunday evening.

       "The local authorities found that the flood in the affected area has receded and the evacuees were then sent back to their respective homes," it added.

       Continuous heavy rain since last Friday (May 20) caused the water levels in Sungai Mengalong and Sungai Lukutan to rise fast and overflow, causing 17 villages to be inundated.

       Sipitang is an interior area, about 144 kilometres south of Kota Kinabalu, and bordering Sarawak. - Bernama