Landslide Damages About 20 Graves at Sim-Sim Cemetery in Sandakan After Heavy Rain

KUALA LUMPUR, March 11 — Approximately 20 graves at Sim-Sim Cemetery in Sandakan were damaged following a landslide early Wednesday morning, believed to have been triggered by continuous heavy rainfall in the area.

According to local authorities, the incident occurred within the cemetery grounds after soil on a nearby slope collapsed due to saturated ground conditions caused by persistent rain.

Sulaiman Salama, the Sandakan district officer from the Malaysian Civil Defence Force, said authorities received a report about the landslide at around 6am.

Initial inspections at the site found that the landslide had affected a section of the cemetery slope, resulting in damage to roughly 20 burial sites.

“The nearby road was not affected as the collapse occurred about 12 metres away from the main route,” he said while confirming that the situation remains under monitoring.

Authorities Monitoring the Area

Emergency personnel are continuing to monitor the site to assess the stability of the surrounding ground and ensure that no further landslides occur.

Officials warned that continued rainfall could increase the risk of additional soil movement, especially in hillside areas.

As a precautionary measure, members of the public have been advised to avoid entering the cemetery area, particularly during ongoing wet weather conditions.

Authorities emphasised that safety remains the top priority while the site is being evaluated.

Heavy Rain Raises Flood Concerns in Sandakan

In addition to the landslide incident, authorities are also monitoring several flood-prone locations across Sandakan following hours of continuous rain overnight.

Among the areas under observation are:

• Batu 16
• Ladang Sandakan in Batu 10
• Batu Sapi

Monitoring carried out since around 2am showed that most locations remain under control, with no residential areas reported to be affected so far.

However, water overflow has been reported at Jalan Lintas Batu Sapi, which has temporarily disrupted traffic although the road remains passable for vehicles.

Authorities are continuing surveillance in these areas to ensure that conditions remain safe for residents and motorists.

Risk of Landslides During Prolonged Rain

Natural disasters such as landslides are relatively common in areas with steep terrain and prolonged rainfall, particularly in parts of Sabah where soil erosion and water-saturated ground can destabilise slopes.

Experts note that heavy rainfall can weaken soil structure, increasing the likelihood of ground collapse in hillside locations, construction sites and cemetery grounds built on slopes.

Local authorities have urged residents to stay alert and follow safety instructions as weather conditions continue to be monitored.

Emergency agencies remain on standby should further incidents occur.