Flood displacement nears 15,000 nationwide as Pahang bears brunt and rivers breach danger levels

FLOODING across six states has forced 14,905 people from 4,837 families to seek shelter at 110 temporary evacuation centres as of 7am today, according to the Social Welfare Department.

Data published on the department’s Disaster Info page showed that those displaced included 4,831 women and 4,895 men, among them 1,400 elderly people and 512 persons with disabilities. Children accounted for 4,735 evacuees, while 444 were infants.

Pahang remained the worst-affected state, with 82 evacuation centres opened across six districts, accommodating 13,481 victims from 4,436 families. The districts involved were Kuantan, Maran, Rompin, Pekan, Jerantut and Lipis.

Terengganu recorded the second-highest number of evacuees, with 802 people housed at 18 centres across three districts. Fifteen centres were opened in Kemaman, one in Hulu Terengganu and two in Dungun.

In Kelantan, four evacuation centres were activated in Gua Musang and Kuala Krai, sheltering 180 victims. Johor recorded 356 evacuees from 93 families at three centres in Mersing, while Selangor had 47 people taking refuge at a single centre in Gombak. Sarawak reported four evacuees in Miri.

Meanwhile, the Drainage and Irrigation Department’s Flood Info Portal showed that river levels remained a concern, with 14 rivers nationwide recorded at danger level.

In Pahang, 11 river monitoring stations breached the danger threshold. These included Sungai Pahang at Jerantut Ferry; Sungai Tembeling at Kampung Merting, Jerantut; Sungai Belat at Sri Damai; Sungai Kuantan at the Kuantan Bypass; Sungai Soi at Jalan Pekan; Sungai Pahang at Kuala Tembeling, Jerantut; Sungai Lepar at Jam Gelugor, Kuantan; Sungai Pahang at the Waterfront in Bera; Sungai Luit at Kampung Subuh, Maran; Sungai Keratong at Kampung Rekoh, Rompin; and Sungai Pahang at Kuala Krau, Temerloh.

In Sarawak, danger levels were recorded at Marudi and Long Teru in Miri, while in Kelantan, Sungai Lebir at Kuala Tualang in Kuala Krai also exceeded the danger mark.

Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely as floodwaters persist and evacuation operations remain ongoing in several states. - December 19, 2025