Portable Pool Saves Family Amid Sabah Flood
KOTA KINABALU – In a story that exemplifies the resilience and resourcefulness of the human spirit, Mr. Azriel Nicol Jue Panjan and his family found an unexpected savior in their inflatable swimming pool. As torrential floods ravaged their homes in Kampung Inobong Kimoligan, Penampang, Sabah on June 30, 2024, what was once a source of weekend fun became a vital lifeline.
Mr. Azriel, 29, had spent numerous weekends with his family in their inflatable pool, measuring 2.74m long and 1.5m wide. Little did he know that this leisure item would be crucial in ensuring the safety of his loved ones when disaster struck.
As floodwaters began to rise rapidly, Mr. Azriel used the pool to transport six children, including his own one-year-old infant and two-year-old daughter, to higher ground. The video footage of the event shows Mr. Azriel, alongside his father-in-law and brother-in-law, pushing the makeshift raft through the treacherous waters.
“Our priority was to get the kids to safety,” Mr. Azriel recounted when contacted on July 2. The other children included his in-laws’ offspring, ranging from a baby to a 10-year-old boy. With water levels reaching at least 2.1m high, significantly surpassing his own height of 1.5m, the situation was dire.
“We were swimming while steering the pool towards our neighbor’s house on higher ground, about 100m away,” he added. The urgency was heightened by the continuous heavy rain and the rapidly rising water.
Once the children were safe, Mr. Azriel and his in-laws returned to rescue his mother-in-law and pregnant sister-in-law. Unfortunately, they could not salvage any belongings. “My car, two motorcycles, and all our valuables were submerged,” he lamented, estimating a loss of RM15,000.
Despite the recurring floods in Penampang, Mr. Azriel noted that this was the worst he had ever experienced. Even neighbors living on elevated ground, previously untouched by floods, found their homes inundated.
The deluge began late in the morning of June 30. Initially dismissing the threat, the family’s alarm grew as water surged into a relative’s lower-lying house. The relentless rain caused the nearby Sungai Inobong to overflow, compounding the disaster.
Mr. Azriel’s family attempted to contact rescue services, only to discover that they were overwhelmed with over 200 distress calls that day. “I am just thankful my family and relatives are safe. Instead of waiting for rescue, we took action ourselves,” he stated.
While the floodwaters have since receded, the family remains at a relative’s house due to an ongoing water supply disruption in their village. The incident underscores the need for better flood preparedness and response mechanisms in flood-prone areas like Penampang.
Penampang, a district often plagued by floods, saw one of its most severe episodes in recent history. The June 30 flood not only displaced families like Mr. Azriel’s but also caused significant damage across the region.
The community’s response highlighted both the vulnerabilities and the resilience of the residents. Stories like Mr. Azriel’s demonstrate the critical importance of community solidarity and improvisation in the face of natural disasters.
This incident has renewed calls for enhanced flood mitigation infrastructure and better emergency response systems. The local government and relevant agencies are urged to take immediate action to prevent future occurrences and ensure the safety of Penampang’s residents.
Mr. Azriel Nicol Jue Panjan’s resourcefulness during the Sabah floods is a poignant reminder of the power of quick thinking and community effort. While the aftermath poses significant challenges, the safety of his family stands as a testament to the human spirit’s unyielding strength in adversity.
