No improvement in Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang flood situations

Flood situations in the east coast states of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang have showed no improvement, with the number of evacuees in Kelantan increasing drastically to 18,812 people this morning compared to 15,002 people last night.

In KOTA BAHARU, according to the state government flood portal at 8.30am, the number of flood victims increased in Tumpat as water levels at Sungai Golok still exceed the danger level.

The total number of flood relief centres have increased from 77 last night to 83.

Pasir Mas still houses the highest number of flood evacuees, with 10,599 people in 37 relief centres compared to 7,594 people at 31 centres.

There are 3,115 evacuees in six flood relief centres in Tumpat compared to 2,174 evacuees last night.

In Kuala Krai, 2,865 people were placed in 11 relief centres, Kota Baharu (761 people/six centres), Pasir Puteh (619 people/four centres), Tanah Merah (551 people/11 centres) and Machang (302 people/eight centres).

Favourable weather in the past two days resulted in receding water levels at several major rivers, except for Sungai Golok in Rantau Panjang which recorded a reading of 10.28 metres, exceeding the 9 metre danger level.

The situation in Rantau Panjang has not changed, with a large part of the area still flooded.

Since the second wave of floods hit Kelantan on Dec 16, four deaths were recorded with one each in Tanah Merah, Tumpat, Kuala Krai and Kota Baharu.

The latest involved teenager Che Muhammad Anuar Che Hassan, 17, who was found drowned in a 7.10am incident after he fell into flood waters in front of his home in Kampung Teluk Jering, Tumpat, yesterday.

His body was found three minutes after he fell into the water.

No major roads were closed to traffic except Jalan Kota Baharu to Pantai Cahaya Bulan in Kampung Tikat, here, which remains closed to light vehicles.

A drizzle, sometimes heavy, scattered over Kelantan this morning.

In KUALA TERENGGANU, the state National Security Council (NSC) portal said the flood situation in Terengganu has not shown much change this morning with 8,587 evacuees compared to 8,659 last night.

Besut recorded the highest number of victims with 3,235 people, followed by Dungun (2,132) and Kemaman (1,925).

Hulu Terengganu, which was the worst affected, showed improvement with the number of evacuees dropping to 950 at 15 relief centres.

In Kuala Terengganu, 43 people were housed in three flood relief centres four relief centres, Marang (21 people/one centre) and Setiu (290 people/three centres).

The Terengganu Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Hydrology Division Flood Operations Room reported that until 8am today, the water level at Sungai Dungun in Kuala Jengai exceeded the danger level with 21.6 metres (danger level is 21 metres) while Sungai Dungun at Jerangau Bridge recorded 13.42 metres (danger level is 12.5 metres).

In KUANTAN, Kuantan police chief ACP Abdul Aziz Salleh said the number of flood evacuees in the district reduced to 1,449 people from 408 families at 9am today compared to 1,624 people from 411 families last night.

Abdul Aziz said a new relief centre was opened at the Kampung Sungai Soi Community Hall to accommodate four more victims from a family after their home in Kg Sungai Soi was flooded.

"Six flood relief centres are still operating and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Pandan still houses the most victims, with 893 people from 238 families from Kg Pandan 2, Chendering and Lubuk Puyu," he told Bernama today.

He said only one stretch at Jalan Kampung Air Hitam Seri Damai was closed to all vehicles after the area was flooded with water 4 metres high.

Meanwhile, a spokesman from the Pahang Contingent Police Headquarters confirmed that no other flood victims were evacuated in other districts.

Meanwhile, the state DID said Sungai Pahang in Kg Chenor, Maran, recorded water levels of 21.07 metres which exceeds the danger level of 20.70 metres.