FORTY-FIVE people attending a fishing tournament had to be rescued after they were stranded by rising river waters. The incident occurred at Kampung Longob in Kota Marudu, where 23 men, 15 women, and seven children were trapped.

A team from the Kota Marudu Fire and Rescue Station responded immediately upon receiving the distress call.

“The team rescued the victims using a rope and ladder. All of them were rescued,” a spokesperson said, adding that the operation concluded at 6:47 pm yesterday.

Sabah has been experiencing heavy rainfall since early June due to the La Nina phenomenon, which is expected to peak between July and September this year.