• Thousands flee homes as floods continue in Sabah
• Authorities launch emergency aid and relief efforts

The Malaysian state of Sabah is facing a critical flood situation for the third consecutive day, affecting inland and southwestern coastal areas.

The State Disaster Command Centre reported that approximately 5,860 people from 2,067 households remain impacted in the inland districts of Tenom and Sook, as well as Beaufort, Membakut, and Sipitang along the southwest coast.

Tenom is the hardest-hit area, with 3,544 residents from 1,207 households across 46 villages affected. Beaufort recorded 1,462 victims from 513 households in 58 villages, Membakut 435 residents from 171 households across 16 villages, Sipitang 340 from 151 households in 22 villages, and Sook 79 from 25 households across four villages.

A total of 146 villages have been affected, with victims sheltered in 29 relief centres as of noon on February 27, following the floods that struck two days earlier.

Dozens of schools were damaged or rendered inaccessible, with some being used as temporary shelters. Railway services from Kota Kinabalu to Beaufort were disrupted in the low-lying areas, which are experiencing their third flood of 2026.

No fatalities have been reported, but officials anticipate significant damage to crops, livestock, and property.

Sabah’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Industries, Jamawi Jaafar, ordered officials to inspect the affected areas to assess damage to crops, livestock, and infrastructure, and to coordinate immediate relief efforts. He stressed cooperation with local authorities to ensure the delivery of aid, including animal feed and planting seeds.

Regarding Beaufort and Sipitang, MP Matbali Musah urged the Finance Ministry to provide additional emergency allocations, emphasizing the need for rapid response to frequent natural disasters in Sabah.

The first wave of floods occurred between February 18 and 24 in the northern districts of Pitas and Bintan, as well as southeastern Tawau, resulting in the evacuation of over 5,000 people before the situation improved.