Pahang floods: One dead, two missing

The flood situation in the East Coast states has worsened with the number of victims being evacuated rising, and one death from drowning and two people reported missing in Pahang.

In PAHANG, a spokesman for the flood operations room at the state police contingent headquarters said Mohamed Alif Khalid, 21, was found to have drowned at 4.15pm yesterday after he was believed to have gone fishing alone at Sungai Kampung Sepial in Kuala Tembeling, Jerantut.

His body was brought to Jerantut Hospital, he told Bernama Thursday.

Meanwhile, Pekan Umno division committee member Jamali Jani, 45, and his son Megat Mohd Nazli Jamali, 17, are believed to be missing after they fell into the flood waters in Sungai Isap village at about 7.30pm yesterday.

The two were said to be removing some household belongings from their submerged house into a fibreglass boat when they fell into the flood waters.

A search operation has been mounted to find them.

According to the spokesman, the number of flood victims evacuated to the relief centres has now reached 38,323 from 9,153 families. They are placed at 122 relief centres in seven districts.

Kuantan district has recorded the highest number of flood evacuees at 30,307 from 1,561 families, who are accommodated at 85 relief centres.

The spokesman said in Rompin, there were now 4,289 flood victims at 15 relief centres and in Pekan, 3,037 victims at 11 relief centres.

In Maran, there were 637 flood victims at six relief centres, 25 in Jerantut (two relief centres), 21 in Lipis (two) and seven in Temerloh (one), he added.

In TERENGGANU, it was reported that the number of flood victims evacuated to 101 relief centres reached 7,780 this morning compared to 5,393 last night.

According to the National Security Council's (MKN) portal, the flood situation in the state was increasingly critical when Besut district became the latest to be hit by floods, with 102 victims from 24 families evacuated to six relief centres since 4am today.

As of now, Kemaman district remains the worst hit, with 3,840 victims from 916 families housed at the relief centres.

The Sultan of Terengganu, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin this morning visited the flood victims at the relief centres in SMK Sultan Ismail II and Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Iman in Kemaman, accompanied by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said.

In Dungun, the number of flood victims as at 9am today was 2,130 from 527 families, Hulu Terenganu 1,654 (472 families), Marang 54 (14 families).

The state Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) reported that the water level in most of the main rivers in Terengganu this morning was at the danger level.

In KELANTAN, the number of flood victims continued to rise this morning with 986 compared to 538 last night.

According to the state government's official portal, Machang, Pasir Mas, Pasir Puteh and Tanah Merah districts were among the latest to be hit by floods.

In Kuala Krai, 646 flood victims from 149 families are at six relief centres and in Machang, 71 victims from 19 families housed at four relief centres.

In Pasir Mas, only 24 victims from one family were evacuated when Sungai Golok in Rantau Panjang reportedly overflowed.

In Pasir Puteh, 109 victims from 29 families were evacuated to three relief centres and in Tanah Merah, 136 from 38 families evacuated to seven relief centres.

The water levels in Sungai Lebir, Sungai Kelantan and Sungai Golok in Rantau Panjang had surpassed the danger level while the water levels in other rivers continued to rise.

As at 10am today, the water level reading in Sungai Lebir at Tualang was 36.19 metres (above the danger level of 35 metres), Sungai Kelantan at Tangga Krai 25.35 metres (danger level - 25 metres) and at Guillemard Bridge at 17.15 metres (danger level - 16 metres).

The water level in Sungai Golok at Rantau Panjang was at 10.21 metres this morning, above the danger level of nine metres. If the water level continues to rise, more people in Pasir Mas will have to be evacuated.

The weather remained overcast this morning with sporadic heavy rain in the interior areas.

In MALACCA, 25 flood victims from five families in Kampung Parit Penghulu, Sungai Rambai, Jasin were evacuated to Sekolah Kebangsaan Parit Penghulu since yesterday evening after Sungai Kesang nearby overflowed and inundated their homes.

Malacca MKN assistant secretary Maj. Jafri Mohamed said although the rain had not been heavy and the weather was clear today, the river overflowed due to the effects of flooding in Johor which experienced heavy downpours.

He said the water level in Sungai Kesang was at 3.12 metres.

In JOHOR, clear skies were reported this morning in badly-hit Mersing district but there were so signs of the flood waters subsiding yet.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department said the east coast area of Johor were still exposed to high tide which was expected to continue until Monday.

On its website, the department also warned on strong northeasterly wind at a speed of 50 to 60kph and rough seas with waves up to 4.5 metres in Pahang and east Johor waters.

It said the condition was dangerous for all saling, beach and fishing activities, and ferry service.

According to the KMN portal, as at 11am today, the number of flood evacuees was at 8,793 from 8,705 last night, accommodated at 62 relief centres.

Mersing has the highest number of flood evacuees at 5,716, followed by Segamat (1,052), Kluang (1,005), Pontian (409), Muar (217), Kota Tinggi (212), Batu Pahat (175) and Ledang (seven).