Floods: Number of evacuees rises in Johor, drops in Sabah

KUALA LUMPUR: The number of flood victims in Johor recorded an increase, remained unchanged in Pahang and dropped in Sabah as two relief centres were closed this morning.

In JOHOR, 2,757 evacuees are currently taking shelter at 31 relief centres in six districts as of 8 am compared to 2,564 people last night.

The State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN) said Batu Pahat has the highest number of evacuees with 946 people, followed by Mersing (829), Kota Tinggi (453), Kluang (422), Segamat (92) and Tangkak (15).

Sungai Endau in Mersing still surpasses the danger level with a reading of 2.9 metres(m).

In SABAH, the number of flood victims dropped to 1,211 people from 471 families housed at four relief centres this morning, compared to 1,419 people from 585 families last night.

The Sabah JPBN secretariat, in a statement, said two centres, namely Dewan Kampung Kabatan and Sekolah Kebangsaan Bangkau-Bangkau in Pitas, had been closed.

It said that 152 victims from 450 families are taking shelter in two centres in Pitas, 46 victims from 12 families moved to one centre in Lahad Datu, and 13 victims from nine families are housed in one centre in Paitan.

In PAHANG, a total of 219 people from 70 families are still at three centres in Rompin.

The JPBN secretariat reported that the centre in Kampung Setajam houses 171 victims, Sekolah Kebangsaan Kampung Denai (27) and Balai Raya Kampung Jawa (21).

The water level at Sungai Keratong in Rompin continues to show a downward trend but still exceeds the danger mark (23m) at 23.32m this morning, compared to 23.48m last night.

-- BERNAMA