KOTA BELUD: Twenty-six villages in the Kota Belud district were flooded again following incessant rain which started last night, causing several rivers to overflow.

The affected villages included Donggoi, Marajah, Gunding, Sadok-Sadok, Sembirai, Lingkodon, Linau, Suang Punggur, Menunggui, Song-Song, Sangkir, Karang Benai, Kota Bungan, Tawadakan, Lentigi, Tanjung Wakap, Lebak Engad, Keranjangan, Rangalu, Tombol, Siasai Tamu, Limatok, Pompod and Kampung Kota Belud.

The floods also rendered nine roads impassable: Jalan Kampung Marajah-Donggoi, Jalan Lebak Moyoh Bypass Kudat, Jalan Kampung Sembirai, Jalan Kampung Lebak Engad, Jalan Kampung Linau, Jalan Kampung Menunggui, Jalan Kampung Bobot, Jalan Kota Belud and Jalan Siasai Tamu.

A spokesman from the Sabah Civil Defence Force said as of 7.30am today, 129 people had been evacuated to the Tun Said community hall here.

He said the number was expected to rise as evacuation is still ongoing in all the flooded areas.

A total of 144 personnel from the Civil Defence Force, Fire and Rescue Department, armed forces, police and NGOs were involved in the evacuation.

The district experienced its worst floods in October.

River sedimentation and land surface runoff, caused by the devastating earthquake that hit nearby Ranau in June 2015, were among the reasons given for the floods.

More than 2,500 people were displaced at the time.

The Sabah government has approved a RM50 million allocation for a flood mitigation project along Sungai Kedamaian, a major river that flows through Kota Belud.

Unprecedented Kota Belud floods linked to 2015 quake, says geologist

Sabah approves RM50m flood mitigation work in Kota Belud