Floods in Pahang, Terengganu worsen, slight improvement in Johor

KUALA LUMPUR:The flood situation in the East Coast involving Pahang and Terengganu has worsened last night as the number of evacuees in relief centres is reported to be increasing, while Johor saw a slight drop in number of evacuees.

In PAHANG, the number of evacuees rose to 3,979 people (1,223 families) from 3,273 people (902 families) recorded yesterday evening.

According to the Social Welfare Deparment disaster info website as of 8 pm last night, nine districts in the state are affected and 91 relief shelters are in operation.

The portal informed that Kuantan recorded the highest number of evacuees with 1,097 people followed by Jerantut (634), Raub (597), Maran (594), Rompin (420), Temerloh (306), Lipis (183), Bentong (95) and Pekan (53).

In TERENGGANU, the number of people affected in Dungun and Kemaman districts has increased to 222 people (68 families) as compared to 138 (40 families) recorded yesterday evening.

Head of the State Disaster Management Committee Secretariat, Lieutenant Colonel (PA) Che Adam A Rahman said, in Dungun 176 evacuees are seeking shelter at two relief centres at the Kampung Pasir Raja Community Hall and Kampung Shukor Multipurpose Hall.

While, in Kemaman, 46 victims from 11 families are at the Teladas Community Hall.

In JOHOR, the number of evacuees dropped slightly to 6,391 people (1,641 families) and three relief shelters have closed in Johor Bahru.

Johor state Health and Environment committee chairman R. Vidyananthan said eight districts are affected by the floods as of 8 pm yesterday and 60 relief shelters are still operating with two each in Pontian and Batu Pahat, Kluang (19), Kota Tinggi (17), Johor Bahru ( 10), Kulai (5), Mersing (4), Segamat (1).

Kluang recorded the highest number of evacuees with 2,533 people, followed by Kota Tinggi (1,470), Johor Bahru (1,432), Kulai (581), Mersing (311), Batu Pahat (36), Pontian (23) and Segamat (five).

Meanwhile, he said, four roads in Kota Tinggi are still closed to all vehicles, namely, Jalan Sungai Sayong at Jambatan Sungai Sayong, Jalan Tun Sri Lanang in Bandar Kota Tinggi, Jembatan Jalan Semangar and Jalan Mawai Lama, as well as at Jalan Haji Suhud Taman Muhibbah, Johor Bahru which was closed following a collapsed bridge.

"In Kluang, Jalan Batu Pahat-Mersing at Ladang Pak Loh and Jalan Batu Pahat-Kluang near the Kahang Secondary School are still closed to light vehicles.

“Jalan Batu Pahat-Mersing at the Johor State Farmers Organization and Hock Huat are also closed to all vehicles and at Jalan Kluang-Mersing in Kampung Contoh one lane has been closed,” he said.

-- BERNAMA