Situation in flood-hit east coast improves

The situation in flood-hit areas of the east coast states of Terengganu, Kelantan and Pahang improved today, with more than 4,000 evacuees allowed to return to their homes by 9 am.

Some 15,674 evacuees were still at relief centres in the three states as at 9am, compared to 19,958 last night.

In Terengganu, the number of evacuees at relief centres at 9am had dropped to 8,173 compared to 11,489 last night.

The state's flood portal reported that 71 relief centres remained open in the state this morning, down from 147 last night.

The situation in the flood-hit Marang and Besut districts improved, with many evacuees allowed to return to their homes.

There was no drastic change in the situation in the other districts.

The number of evacuees at relief centres in Besut stood at 121; Marang, 23; Kemaman, 4,027; Dungun, 2,130; Kuala Terengganu, 1,021; Setiu, 566 and Hulu Terengganu, 285.

In Kelantan, where the weather has improved, the number of evacuees was 6,507 this morning compared to 6,757 last night.

According to the state government official portal, the evacuees were being accommodated at 31 relief centres.

The Pasir Mas district had the most number of evacuees, at 4,031.

The number of evacuees in Tumpat was 1,885; Kota Baharu, 231; Tanah Merah, 153; Pasir Puteh, 145; Kuala Krai, 53 and Machang, nine.

Only the level of Sungai Golok in Rantau Panjang was above the danger point, at 10.31 metres (danger point nine metres).

The Rantau Panjang duty-free zone remained flooded and could be accessed only by four-wheel-drive and heavy vehicles. No major roads were closed.

In Pahang, the number of evacuees dropped to 994 this morning compared to 1,712 last night.

A spokesman of the Pahang Police flood operations room said that as at 9am, only two districts - Kuantan and Pekan - had evacuees at relief centres.

"The Kuantan district has the most number of evacuees, at 788. In Pekan, the number of evacuees housed at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sinar Mutiara, Sungai Miang, remained at 206," he said, adding that all closed roads had been reopened.