Searching and clearance process has been completed in Kampung Tanjung Labian in Lahad Datu, said Sabah's top cop.

He added that villagers can start inspecting their neighborhoods and homes, and villages will be allowed to return to their homes on as early as Saturday.

"Tomorrow, residents together with the assessment team will inspect the damage, and will be allowed to return to their homes the next day," said Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Hamza Taib.

This will involve between 20 to 25 families.

For those families whose homes have been damaged badly, they can still live in evacuation centers, said Hamza.

In Kampung Tanjung Batu, 21 families, village heads and assessment team inspection have done an inspection on the village at 10am.

"There are damages. Some houses can be considered totally destroyed. But there are still houses that can be fixed and they are allowed to return to their homes tomorrow, " he added.

To restore the confidence of the villagers when they return home, the security forces will continue its efforts to monitor and secure the area, Hamza added.

"We cannot confirm the presence of enemies, but we are confident that if there were, they are outnumbered," said Hamza.