Business as usual for flood-prone Donggongon town

KOTA KINABALU: Business is almost back to normal at flood-prone Donggongon town in Penampang, as most shops have reopened their doors to customers.

The public were seen having meals at restaurants, visiting banks and shopping at sundry shops.

Despite the heavy rain, flood water has receded and heavy traffic is beginning to fill the roads.

Just 48 hours ago, the township was covered with waist-length water, submerging roads leading to various locations within the district.

“Never had I experienced flood water entering the premises since I started working here 22 years ago.

Shops getting cleaned up in Donggongon, Penampang.

“But last Sunday (June 30), the water was about knee-high inside the shop,” said Lisa Richard Gomburing, who was cleaning the outlet in Donggongon along with colleagues on Tuesday (July 2).

Lisa said when they closed the shop at 7pm, it felt like being on an island as they were surrounded by water.

“The water submerged the whole area, and a friend and I were stranded in the township. We could not go back, and ended up sleeping on a higher-level shop corridor without food,” she said.

Lisa said they were only able to return home after the water receded the next day.

Like Lisa and her colleagues, many other restaurants and shop staff were also seen cleaning the aftermath of the big flood.

Meanwhile, in an observation at a local sundry shop, other than buying food essentials, the public were also seen buying other less essential items like umbrellas, slippers and torchlights.