SEVERAL states face continuous risk of floods over the Christmas period as the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has warned that rains are expected to persist at dangerous levels.
The affected areas include several places in Terengganu and Kelantan.
MetMalaysia director-general Muhammad Helmi Abdullah said the downpour continues at a high level and is predicted to keep pouring tomorrow.
In Kelantan, the affected areas include heavily populated places like Tumpat, Pasir Mas, Kota Baru, Jeli, Tanah Merah, Bachok, Machang, Pasir Puteh and Kuala Krai.
In Terengganu, areas such as Besut, Setiu, Kuala Nerus, Hulu Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu, Marang and Dungun will continue to be lashed by rains.
At the same time, MetMalaysia also issued a severe rain warning for several localities across six states.
Helmi said the warning covers Perlis, Kedah (Langkawi, Kubang Pasu, Kota Setar, Pokok Sena, Padang Terap, Pendang, Sik, and Baling), Perak (Hulu Perak), Kelantan (Gua Musang), Terengganu (Kemaman) and Pahang (Jerantut and Kuantan).
The continuous rain will also affect other areas in Kedah, namely in Yan, Kuala Muda, Kulim and Bandar Baharu.
“It (warning) includes Penang, Perak (Kerian, Larut, Matang and Selama and Kuala Kangsar) including Pahang (Cameron and Lipis Highlands),” he said.
Meanwhile, more than 100 vehicles were stranded when the main Gua Musang-Lojing road near Pos Blau near Cameron Highlands became flooded this morning.
Berita Harian reported that more than 300 road users were stranded in both directions since 6am and that the rainfall was still continuing in the affected area.
The flood happened as a result of heavy deluge since last night.
Road user Suhaimi Harun, 43, who was with his family on their way to Cameron Highlands for a holiday, was quoted as saying that water was overflowing onto the main road leading to the resort highlands when he arrived at the location at about 8.30am.
As incidents like these persisted, Pahang opened its first temporary evacuation centre to accommodate 75 victims from 19 families at SK Felda Gelanggi 1.
The centre was activated at 9am after several houses in Felda Kota Gelanggi were flooded due to the overflow of the Sg Siam river.
Jerantut district Civil Defence Force officer Capt Muszaidi Musa said that as of this afternoon, the river water level was trending lower and the flood was beginning to recede. – The Vibes, December 24, 2023
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