KUALA LUMPUR – The flood situation in the east coast of the peninsula has worsened, with the number of victims evacuated to temporary relief centres, as at 8am today, rising to 7,308 evacuees from 6,627 yesterday evening.
In TERENGGANU, the number of victims increased to 6,305 people from 1,663 families this morning compared with 5,776 people (1,478 families) at 4pm yesterday, which led to the opening of three more centres, making it 49 centres in total so far.
Terengganu Disaster Management Committee secretariat chief Lt-Col Che Adam A Rahman said Kemaman was the worst hit district in the state with 5,108 evacuees (1,238 families) placed in 25 centres today compared with 4,729 people (1,135 families) yesterday.
In Dungun, the number of evacuees rose to 381 (104 families), placed in 10 centres, compared with 326 (95 families) in seven centres before, while in Hulu Terengganu, there are now 806 evacuees (318 families) compared with 710 (245 families) yesterday evening.
In Setiu, the number of flood evacuees remains at 11 from three families.
Data from the Irrigation and Drainage Department (DID) shows that water levels at three rivers were still at the danger level as at 8am, namely Sg Tebak (18.56m, danger level 18.5m) and Sg Kemaman (5.12m, danger level 4.5m) in Kemaman, and Sg Dungun in Dungun at (12.81m, danger level 12.5m).
Hulu Terengganu police chief Mohd Adli Mat Daud reminded the people not to treat the flood situation as a “water carnival”, adding that many, especially children have been seen playing in floodwaters.
He cautioned that while floods may be a normal annual occurrence for the people, the situation can be unpredictable, especially for children, when strong currents hit.
In KELANTAN, the number of evacuees in four districts jumped to 1,003 people as at 8am, compared with 851 yesterday evening, with Gua Musang becoming the latest district to be hit by floods after Tanah Merah, Kuala Krai and Pasir Mas.
According to the state’s Welfare Department online flood portal, another centre has been opened at SK Limau Kasturi in Gua Musang to place 13 flood victims from two families.
Pasir Mas has the highest number of evacuees with 603 people (197 families in 10 centres), followed by Kuala Krai (226 evacuees from 56 families in seven centres) and Tanah Merah with 161 evacuees from 42 families in six centres).
According to the DID website, as at 8am today, Sg Golok in Rantau Panjang recorded a reading of 10.43m (danger level 10m), Sg Kelantan in Kuala Krai at 25.15m (danger level 25m) and Kg Temangan in Machang 17.43m (danger level 15.9m).
Meanwhile, three rivers recorded readings past the warning level, namely Sg Kelantan in Tanah Merah with a reading of 15.93m (warning level 14m), Sg Golok in Jenob, Tanah Merah, at 22.65m (warning level 22.50m) and Sg Golok in Kuala Jambu, Tumpat, at 2.38m (warning level 2.15m).
Rivers with water exceeding the warning level were Sg Galas in Limau Kasturi, Gua Musang at 57.49m (warning level 56m) and Sg Kelantan at the Customs jetty in Kota Baru at 3.75m (warning level 3m).
Meanwhile, Kelantan Fire and Rescue Department ssistant director (operations) Mohd Wildan Azhari had advised the people not to move to centres on their own, as they risk being stranded in floodwaters. – Bernama, December 20, 2020
