KOTA BELUD: The only link to five villages near here has been cut off after a bridge collapsed on Thursday (May 12) following continuous heavy rain since Monday (May 9), leaving about 4,000 residents in stranded.
Sinim Embom, 58, a farmer from Kampung Sayap, said her family had planned to buy items for the relative's wedding but this had disrupted their preparations.
"We are forced to postpone the wedding. This will also cause difficulties to villagers as it is their only route to town.
"It has badly affected us, especially farmers who have to ferry their produce to town every day," she said when met by Bernama here on Friday (May 13).
On Thursday, Bernama reported that the Sabah Public Works Department as saying in a statement that KM4.3 of Jalan Sayap in Kota Belud was closed after a bridge was damaged.
It said there was also no alternative route for motorists.
A resident from Kampung Talungan, James Taiman, 69, said the 2pm incident has cut off all types of vehicles from going to the villages.
"The bridge collapse makes it impossible for any vehicles to reach Kampung Nahaba, Talungan, Terintidon, Tegudon, and Kampung Sayap, which have almost 4,000 residents," said the trader.
Another villager from Kampung Nahaba, Serupi Lambang, 46, said he hoped that the authorities would immediately build a concrete bridge to replace the collapsed structure.
"The bridge which collapsed was dilapidated and should have been replaced a long time ago. The bridge is crucial as it is the only link to town," he said.
Meanwhile, the Sabah State Disaster Management Committee, in a statement, said the flood evacuation centre (PPS) at Dewan Terbuka Kampung Saga in Tenom was closed Friday afternoon.
Five PPS are still open in Tenom housing 333 victims from 124 families and two are open in Beaufort holding 352 victims from 95 families.
The number of flood victims dropped to 685 people from 219 families this morning compared to 707 people from 323 families yesterday evening, said the statement. – Bernama