KUALA LUMPUR – Johor became the latest state to be hit by floods with eight relief centres (PPS) opened in Segamat to shelter 456 victims from 133 families as of 8am today.
The number of evacuees in four states also continued to rise, namely in Sabah, Negri Sembilan, Kelantan and Terengganu.
In Johor, state Health and Environment Committee chairman R. Vidyananthan said the eight PPS were opened late last night following continuous downpour in the Segamat district since yesterday.
“The PPS are at the Balai Raya Kg Sermin; Balai Raya Kg Lembah Bakti; Pekan Air Panas multipurpose hall; SJK (C) Ai Chun; Balai Raya Kg Paya Leng; Balai Raya Kg Paya Lebar; Balai Raya Kg Gelang Chinchin; SK Kg Tenang and Jalan Genuang multipurpose hall.
“The areas affected by the floods are Kg Sermin; Kg Lembah Bakti; Kg Pekan Air Panas; Kg Paya Lenga; Kg Paya Lebar; Kg Gelang Chinchin; Kg Tenang and Kg Sedeng,” he said in a statement today.
According to the Irrigation and Drainage Department’s (DID) official flood information portal, the water level in Sg Muar in Kg Awat has exceeded the danger level at 20.11m, while Sg Lenik in Kg Chaah was above the warning level at 5.58m, as of 8.15am.
In addition, the water level in Sg Tangkak in Kg Seri Makmur, Tangkak has also exceeded the danger level at 4.16m.
In Sabah, the number of Kota Marudu flood victims rose to 504 people from 167 families this morning, compared to 73 people from 17 families last night, with one new PPS opened in SMK Tandek to house 253 victims from 97 families.
“The number of people being evacuated to the PPS continued to increase as the water level remained high. We are still monitoring the villages that have been flooded,” state Disaster Management Committee Secretariat said in a statement.
In Negri Sembilan, state Civil Defence Force (APM) director Lt Col (PA) Mohd Syukri Madnor said a total of 138 victims from 41 families were currently housed at nine PPS including in Surau Kg Gedok; SK Felda Palong 1; and Desa Bangi hall as of 8am.
State Fire and Rescue Department also stated that some 295 individuals who were stranded in Felda Jelai 4 in Gemas; Kg Tengah, Kg Geduk, Kg Tenai, and Kg Baru Geduk in Gemencheh; Felda Palong 1 in Bahau; Kg Kuala Johol, Kuala Pilah; and Kg Tanah Datar Hilir and Teha Homestay in Seri Menanti, had been rescued since this morning.
Meanwhile, the number of evacuees in Kelantan recorded a slight increase to 1,129 from 1,128 individuals yesterday. They were placed at 18 PPS in three districts with 11 in Kuala Krai, Jeli (6), Tanah Merah (1), according to the Social Welfare Department (JKM) Info Bencana application.
The DID portal reported that only one major river in the state was at the danger level, namely Sk Kelantan in Kuala Krai with a reading of 25.27m.
More people have been evacuated in Terengganu with 451 people from 128 families currently taking shelter at the PPS this morning compared to 433 people from 123 families last night.
State Disaster Management Committee Secretariat, in a statement, said that another PPS has been opened in the Dungun district, namely in Kg Minda community hall that houses 18 victims from five families, while the number of evacuees in three other PPS remained unchanged.
In Pahang, JKM Info Bencana application reported that a total of 2,030 victims were still at 32 PPS in six districts this morning.
The authorities have reopened seven more PPS in Raub as preparation to receive flood victims following continuous heavy rain, but only one PPS in SK Ulu Atok currently houses 35 people from eight families.
The DID portal also reported that two rivers were at the danger level and increasing, namely Sungai Lipis in Batu Malim, Raub and Sg Serting in Padang Gudang, Bera.
Six rivers were at the warning level, namely Sg Pahang in Paya Gintong, Jerantut; Sg Dong in Kg Peruas (Raub); Sg Lipis in Benta (Lipis); Sg Triang in Chemomoi (Bentong); Sg Luit in Kg Subuh, Maran; and Sg Kechau in Kampung Dusun (Lipis).
In Selangor, the Meteorological Department forecast that Sabak Bernam, Kuala Selangor, Hulu Selangor and Gombak would experience thunderstorms and heavy rain.
In Melaka, a total of 96 people from 29 families were relocated to two PPS after the Alor Gajah district was hit by the floods again last night.
State APM director Lt Col (PA) Cuthbert John Martin Quadra said 15 victims from eight families were placed at Balai Raya Gadek which was reopened at 3.30am, while 81 people from 21 families were taking shelter at SMK Seri Pengkalan which was reopened at 7am today.
He said that another PPS has been reopened at SRA Jabatan Agama Islam Melaka this morning and is currently managing the registration of flood victims. – Bernama, January 1, 2022