KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is seeing a slight increase in flood evacuees to 3,743 as of 8am Thursday (Jan 6) from 3,264 people at 8pm Wednesday (Jan 5) despite the improving weather in most parts of the state.

       This is because of rainfall in Tongod, in Sabah’s central area, which is pushing water flow downwards to Telupid and Kinabatangan, said state Civil Defence Department director Sharudin Md Zain.

       “Actually it is no longer raining in most parts of the state, just Tongod,” he said when contacted.

       “So the rainfall is causing floods in Telupid and Kinabatangan. The increase in number of evacuees is mainly from there,” he added.

       Meanwhile, a total of 27 temporary relief centres are still housing flood victims in the five affected districts of Kota Marudu, Paitan, Telupid, Sandakan and Pitas.

       Apart from monitoring the situation as well as assisting in the evacuation process, rescue workers are also involved in sending food baskets to villagers who are still cut off from main roads and towns by floods in their areas.