Ten schools here had to be closed today after floods hit the area since yesterday.

Sabah Education Department director, Datuk Maimunah Suhaibul said nine of the schools were closed because their access roads were inundated by flood waters, making these roads impassable, while one school had been turned into a flood relief centre.

The affected schools are Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Pandan Mandamai, SK Sosop, SK Pinggan-Pinggan, SK Mandurian, SK Pinapak, SK Nibang, SK Rukom, SK Kinabungan, SK Kusilad and SMK Kinabungan with a total of 2,599 students and 280 teachers.

"Based on the current situation, the 10 schools may be re-opened tomorrow," Maimunah told reporters after visiting some of the affected schools today.

She said the State Education Department would be monitoring the situation in the flood-hit areas.

"School heads and principals can close their respective schools due to floods by informing about the matter to the department.

"I also want the heads and principals of the flood-hit schools to prepare a complete report on the damage caused by the floods for follow-up action to be taken," she added. - Bernama