PENAMPANG: Flood victims in the district claimed they could not contact authorities for rescue during the crisis.
Many of them had to use social media to get help from the public as no assistance arrived, nor did the Fire and Rescue Department respond to their calls.
In the Penampang Voices Facebook group, Olyn Ungkol from Kampung Inobong asked anyone with a boat to rescue his family members.
"Mine is a single-storey house. If we were to climb out through the windows, there are young children, including a 6-month-old baby. There is also a wheelchair-bound senior citizen.
"Please save them and send them to a cousin's house on the hill. Only boats can pass through the place now."
Georgina Jojie also posted on Facebook, asking the public to rescue her mother, who was trapped in Kampung Pangasakan, Inobong.
"The water has almost reached the second floor. I could not contact my mother as the fixed line was not connected.
"I have called 999 and Sembulan and Kota Kinabalu Fire and Rescue (Department) but help is pending, so if anyone has a boat, please help."
In Kiranau, near here, several adults were seen in a viral video using an inflatable swimming pool to bring young children to safety.
The district and several others on the west coast of Sabah have experienced heavy rain since about 1pm.
Following the incident, many cars were submerged, and electricity and water supplies were disrupted.
Meanwhile, Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) has advised the public to stay away from its assets for their safety.
A temporary relief centre was activated at 5.25pm at Penampang Cultural Centre here. As of press time, three people are seeking shelter.