Second wave of floods expected to hit Pahang tonight

A second wave of flooding is expected to hit Pahang tonight itself.

Authorities involved in the flood relief efforts have asked the public to take precaution.

Astro AWANI journalist ARFA YUNUS, now in Kuantan, reports of an advisory from authorities for flood victims who have returned home: they are urged to return to the relocation centres before 12am.

According to Pahang National Security Council acting secretary Azlan Che Adnan, teams from the fire and rescue department, with boats, are already on standby in areas where water levels are expected to rise.

“We expect a second wave between 12 to 1.15am tonight,” he told Astro AWANI.

This, said Azlan Che, was due to the unceasing rain since two days again and the water levels that have not gone down at Sungai Lembing.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson from the Pahang flood relief centre said that the flood victims in the state have reached 39,991, with increasing numbers from new districts such as Raub.

A Bernama report quotes Pahang state secretary Datuk Seri Muhammad Safian Ismail as saying a drastic increase in water levels in Kuantan is expected at midnight.

“High tides are predicted at 1.15am and water levels at Sg Lembing is to increase due to the rain, “ he was quoted as saying.

Those from Bukit Rangin, Permatang Badak, Taman Cenderawasih and Kampung Belukar are asked to return to the relocation centres.

In a report in New Straits Times, Malaysian Meteorological Department said that a second wave is expected to hit the east coast in the third week of December.

Its central forecast division director, Muhammad Helmi Abdullah said a series of heavy rainfall between the

third week of December and February next year would likely affect Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan and Johor.

The prolonged heavy rainfall, said Muhammad Helmi, would coincide with the presence of the full moon on Dec 17, which would result in unusually high tides.