Terengganu braces for flood season

Terengganu has prepared 472 evacuation centres to accommodate 75,587 flood victims at any one time as part of efforts to brace for the eventuality of floods during the year end's monsoon season.

Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman, said the state government had identified 116 distribution bases for the delivery of food and dry rations to areas cut off by floods.

"In Besut district alone we have opened 139 flood evacuation centres, followed by Kemaman (88), Hulu Terengganu (81), Dungun (58), Kuala Terengganu (47), Setiu (35) and Marang (24).

"For distribution bases, we have prepared 34 centres in Hulu Terengganu, Besut (20), Kemaman and Setiu 16 places respectively, Marang (14), Dungun (12) and Kuala Terengganu (four)," he told reporters after chairing the weekly exco meeting, here, today.

The monsoon season usually starts in November.

He said the Terengganu State Disaster Management Committee (JBPN), comprising 35 government agencies, had made thorough preparations to face the floods this time, taking into account food supplies, daily necessities, logistics equipment, vehicles and personnel.

This year Khazanah Nasional Berhad had contributed two units of generator sets and a water filter to help flood victims get clean water at the evacuation centres, Ahmad Razif said.

"JPBN will also provide the latest information such as the number of flood evacuees, casualty cases, the water levels in major rivers throughout the state as well as the roads that are closed, via the six websites, that can be accessed by the public," he said.