Number of evacuees in Kelantan exceeds 4,000 at noon

Kelantan saw the number of flood evacuees in the state rising to 4,208 from 1,452 families as at noon, up from the 3,774 evacuees from 1,314 families this morning.

Kelantan Civil Defence Force director Zainuddin Hussin said nine more relief centres were opened by noon, raising to 49 the number of centres set up so far.

Three of the nine centres were in the district of Tanah Merah, two each in Kuala Krai and Machang and one each in Pasir Mas and Jeli.

Up to 2,473 of the evacuees (1,004 families) were in Pasir Mas, 611 evacuees (163 families) in Kuala Krai, 455 (114) in Tanah Merah, 383 (101) in Machang, 259 (65) in Jeli and 27 (five) in Pasir Puteh, he said when contacted.

Zainuddin said the water from swollen rivers was flowing downstream and causing floods along the way.

"We anticipate the evacuation of more people this afternoon because rain continues to fall, sometimes heavily. We may have to open more relief centres, especially in Pasir Mas and Tumpat," he said.

The levels of two rivers have exceeded the danger point as at noon, according to the state government portal, http://ebanjir.kelantan.gov.my.

Sungai Kelantan at the Guillemard Bridge in Tanah Merah measured 17.64 metres compared to 17.31 metres this morning. Its danger point is 16 metres. The level of Sungai Golok at Rantau Panjang was 10.35 metres compared to 10.30 metres (danger level nine metres).

Sungai Lebir at Tualang in Gua Musang measured 32.54 metres, up from 32.27 metres (danger level 35 metres) and the level of Sungai Kelantan at the Krai Steps in Kuala Krai stood at 23.67 metres compared to 23.44 metres this morning (danger level 25 metres).

The portal reported that the level of Sungai Galas at Dabong in Kuala Krai had dropped slightly, to 34.19 metres from 34.20 metres this morning. The danger level of the river is 38 metres.