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The severe flooding in Sabah, which began on March 8, 2025, rapidly escalated due to continuous heavy rainfall, affecting six districts: Beaufort, Membakut, Keningau, Sook, Tenom, and Kemabong. The situation worsened when the Tenom Dam was opened, causing further inundation downstream. By March 9, 4,555 individuals from 1,493 families were displaced, prompting the activation of 31 evacuation centers (PPS). Floodwaters severely disrupted daily life, damaging infrastructure, closing roads, and triggering landslides, particularly along the Kota Kinabalu-Tenom route. While floodwaters in Keningau began receding by March 11, some villages remained inundated, leaving essential services disrupted. By March 16, all PPS were officially closed, allowing displaced communities to return home. However, humanitarian needs persist, especially concerning water supply, health risks, and livelihood recovery.
Following the disaster, the Malaysian Red Crescent (MRC) deployed an assessment team consisting of four personnel, supported by two from MRC NHQ, to evaluate urgent humanitarian needs in the most critical areas: Keningau, Tenom, and Beaufort. The assessment identified significant health and water supply challenges across the affected districts. In Beaufort, two cases of Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease (HFMD) were reported at DUN Banir and SMK Beaufort 3 PPS, while stagnant floodwaters heightened the risk of a dengue outbreak. Water shortages severely impacted Mukim 6, N34 Lumadan, where 998 people from 486 households struggled to access clean water. Similarly, in Tenom, 80% of the population faced water shortages due to landslide damage to the main pipeline, affecting 24,000 residents. Despite water trucking operations using eight trucks, repairs at the Senagang Water Treatment Plant left 6,153 meter users without piped water. In Keningau, five HFMD cases were reported, and two clogged water treatment plants operated at only 50% capacity, affecting an estimated 45,000 people. In response to a request from PKOB Keningau District on March 13, MRC coordinated with the Sabah State Water Department to assist in water supply restoration efforts.
Additionally, hygiene promotion efforts have primarily been conducted by government agencies at PPS in Tenom but there has been minimal intervention in affected villages. Community leaders, such as UPPM N3 Lumadan’s Dioslin Alin @Agustine, emphasized the need for expanded hygiene awareness at the community level. Sanitation issues remains in affected areas, exacerbated by water shortages, have led to inadequate maintenance of latrines, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases such as diarrhea and skin infections. Similarly, limited access to handwashing facilities has resulted in unsafe hygiene practices. The floods also disrupted education, impacting 18 schools in Beaufort and six in Membakut. While schools in Membakut have resumed operations, some in Beaufort are still undergoing restoration. Many students, especially in Mukim 6 and Kampung Bakalau, lost essential school supplies, with more than 1,000 students affected. In Tenom, several schools, including SK Pekan, SK Giat Mara Tenom, SMK Entabuan, and SM St. Anthony, are expected to reopen on March 18.
The disaster also had a severe impact on livelihoods. In Mukim 6, where most residents rely on agriculture and fisheries, 40% of affected families are farmers, including palm oil workers, rubber tappers, and paddy farmers, who earn RM 200–500 per month. The floods destroyed crops and plantations, causing prolonged income loss, particularly for rubber tappers due to damaged trees. Fishermen, who constitute 60% of those affected, suffered significant equipment losses, limiting their ability to work. In Kampung Bakalau, an urban area, 70–80% of residents are small business owners and traders, while 20% are laborers. Many businesses sustained financial losses due to damaged goods and reduced consumer demand, making economic recovery difficult. Humanitarian aid has been ongoing, with organizations like Petronas donating 1,000 cartons of mineral water daily (5 days as recorded) to Tenom and PKOB Tenom contributing 1,800 additional cartons. MRC has provided food packs to affected communities and assisted government agencies in first aid, shelter setup, and evacuee registration. Despite floodwaters receding, urgent needs remain, particularly in restoring clean water access, strengthening health and hygiene promotion, supporting education, and rebuilding livelihoods.