KUALA LUMPUR – The flood situation in Perak, Pahang, Terengganu and Selangor has worsened as the number of evacuees in relief centres is reported to be increasing, while Johor and Kelantan saw a slight drop in the number of evacuees.
In Perak, the number of evacuees rose to 1,237 as of 8am from 1,011 yesterday housed at 13 temporary flood relief centres in four districts.
A state disaster management committee secretariat spokesperson said the Muallim district was the worst affected, followed by Kg Slim Village, Kg Balun and Kg Kuala Slim, forcing 554 residents to be moved to four relief centres.
The banjir.water.gov.my portal reported that Sg Plus in Kg Lintang in the Kuala Kangsar district had reached the danger level of 54.93m, while Sg Perak in Kg Gajah of Perak Tengah had reached the alert level of 6.68m.
In Pahang, the number of evacuees rose to 17,104 today compared with 13,626 yesterday and were housed at 242 relief centres in 10 districts.
The Welfare Department Disaster Info portal reported that as of this morning, Maran recorded the highest number of evacuees at 4,561 followed by Kuantan (3,774), Lipis (2,182), Jerantut (1,953), Raub (1,862), Temerloh (1,228), Rompin (954), Pekan (279), Bentong (198), and Bera (113).
Meanwhile, the concession holder of the East Coast Highway Phase 1 (LPT1) ANIH Berhad said in a statement that KM113 in Lanchang was closed to traffic last night as it was flooded while KM84.6-KM84.7 has been closed since Sunday.
Several rivers in Pahang have breached the danger level, among them Sg Jelai in Bukit Betong and Jeram Bungor, Lipis; Sg Tembeling in Kuala Tahan, Jerantut; Sg Kuantan and Sg Lepar, as well as Sg Pahang in several locations, namely in Sg Yap, Jerantut; Lubuk Paku, Maran; Kuala Sungai Chini, and Paloh Hinai, Pekan.
In Terengganu, the number of evacuees in two districts rose slightly to 1,074 people as of 8am compared with 1,044 yesterday.
Head of the state disaster management committee secretariat, Che Adam A Rahman, said two more relief centres were opened in Kemaman, bringing the number to 12.
“In Kemaman the number of victims rose to 920 people compared with 844 previously while in Dungun, the number dropped to 154 from 200 yesterday,” he told reporters today.
Meanwhile, in Selangor, 183 victims remained at four relief centres in two districts as of 8am.
Selangor disaster management unit operations officer Muhammad Izzat Haziq Mohd Nazir said a total of 128 victims in Hulu Bernam were housed at three relief centres, and 55 victims in Kuala Selangor were taking shelter at SK Rantau Panjang.
In Kelantan, the flood situation in Gua Musang has improved with only 78 victims housed at three relief centres as of 8am, from 322 yesterday.
According to the Welfare Department Disaster Info application, of the number, 48 are housed at SK Limau Kasturi 2, the Serian community hall (19), and the Gua Musang district council hall in Bertam Baru (11).
According to infobanjir.water.gov.my, five rivers in the state have breached the alert level, namely Sg Galas in Limau Kasturi, Gua Musang at 58.90m (alert level of 57.50m), Sg Lebir in Tualang, Kuala Krai at 31.24m (31m), Sg Kelantan in Kuala Krai at 23.97m (22.50m), Sg Kelantan in Kusial, Tanah Merah at 14.41m (14m), and Sg Golok in Jenob 22.56m (22.50m).
Meanwhile, the number of evacuees in Johor has dropped to 5,485 from 5,524 yesterday.
Johor health and environment committee chairman R.Vidyananthan said Kota Tinggi still has the highest number of victims at 2,707 followed by Kluang (1,950) and Mersing (506).
A total of 53 relief centres were opened, 23 in Kota Tinggi, Kluang (12), Johor Bahru (one), Mersing (six), Segamat (six), Pontian (three), and two in Batu Pahat.
He said several stretches of roads were still closed, namely Jalan Kota Tinggi-Mersing (Kubu), Jalan Kota Tinggi-Mersing (Risda), Jalan Kota Tinggi- Kluang (Tun Habab), Jalan Lok Heng/Mawai/Sg Mas (Jambatan Sg Semalok), and Jalan Haji Suhud Taman Muhibbah (Johor Baru) following a collapsed bridge, and Jalan Nitar Utama- Kluang di Mersing.
The floods had so far claimed three lives, he said. – Bernama, January 5, 2021
