BEAUFORT, March 10 (Bernama) -- Residents in this district are facing difficulties as Beaufort Town, the hub of their economic activities and daily life, has been hit by floods since last Friday (March 7) and the town's roads are now only passable by heavy vehicles while train services have been disrupted.
A check by Bernama at the affected area found residents struggling to obtain daily necessities as all shops are closed, with some shops submerged up to the level of the signboards. Residents have been forced to use boats to reach certain areas of the town due to the extremely high level of floodwaters.
Even Bernama’s staff covering the situation had to park their 4x4 vehicles on the outskirts of the town, located next to the Sungai Padas, before wading through waist-deep floodwaters on foot and using boats to access affected areas.
Florance Jerome, a 44-year-old teacher, said she, along with staff from Sekolah Kebangsaan St John and the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), are working to gather food and supplies for those affected in the area.
"The security guard at the school has also been without food supplies since last Friday due to the ongoing floods, as have the residents in the surrounding areas. Since this morning, we’ve been trying to get supplies, but it's been quite difficult, especially trying to get past the floodwaters in the town," she told Bernama today.
She said that currently, the Sabah Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) is providing assistance, and she hopes that more people will help, particularly in providing boats for evacuation and the distribution of food supplies.
As of 4 pm today, a total of 4,159 people from 1,362 families are taking shelter in 24 temporary relief centres (PPS) in Sabah, while 1,339 people from 432 families have been placed in four PPS in Beaufort.
A construction contractor, Awang Razali Awang Damit, 52, said that some daily necessities like rice are still available in certain shops on the outskirts of the town, but in very small quantities. Items in high demand, such as sugar and cooking oil, have run out.
"Shops in the town will take a long time to recover even after the floodwaters have receded because they were severely submerged. So, residents have had to look for alternatives, such as going to other towns, but those are quite far as well," he said.
Beaufort Town is located 97 kilometres south of Kota Kinabalu, with the nearest towns being Kuala Penyu (40 km), Papar (54 km), and Menumbok (63 km). However, the affected roads in surrounding areas, including Membakut, are making it difficult for residents to move around.
Housewife Normah Sulaiman, 58, said that the train service is a vital link between rural and remote areas, as well as to major cities like Kota Kinabalu. Therefore, residents are facing difficulties as the service has been disrupted due to the floods.
"Many rely on the train to go to Kota Kinabalu, whether for work or to visit relatives. It is the most affordable and safest option, especially for elderly people like me who are unable to drive long distances," she said, hoping that the service would resume as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, a spokesperson from the Sabah State Railway Department, when contacted by Bernama, said that the railway track connecting Beaufort Station and Membakut Station is still affected by the floods. As a result, train services are currently only available from Sembulan Station in Kota Kinabalu to Bongawan Station.
He said that the affected tracks have been disrupted since last Saturday (March 8), and they are now working to restore the service as quickly as possible.
"Indeed, Beaufort Station, located in Beaufort Town, has also been affected by the floods, and the tracks in the area are submerged. We hope the floodwaters will recede soon so that we can take immediate steps to restore the train service," he said.
-- BERNAMA
