Sandakan is declared a landslide disaster area following a fatal incident, with a relief centre opened and the affected zone deemed unsafe for occupation.

SANDAKAN: The district has been officially declared a landslide disaster area. The Sandakan District Disaster Management Committee (JPBD) made the declaration this morning.

Its chairman Walter Konson said the decision was based on field agency reports following inspections. The inspections covered the landslide site and the Block 10 building at Lebuh Empat in the town centre.

“For the time being, the affected area is unsafe for occupation until further inspections related to the landslide are carried out and the area is confirmed safe to inhabit,” he said in a statement.

A temporary relief centre was also opened at the Sandakan Community Hall. The centre began operations at 12 noon today.

The declaration follows a fatal landslide incident behind a hotel in Sandakan town. An elderly man, Agustine Frederick J Lingam, 76, died after being buried in the landslide.

He was attempting to start the hotel’s generator at the time. Heavy rain and a power outage at the hotel had prompted the victim to go outside.

 The Sun Malaysia