KUALA LUMPUR: There is a slight increase in the number of flood victims in Sabah as two more districts in the state were hit by floods yesterday evening, while the situation in Johor is reported to be improving.

In SABAH, the number of evacuees rose to 690 people from 204 families, who were placed at 14 relief centres, compared to 627 people from 188 families in the evening with Beaufort and Beluran becoming the latest districts to be struck by floods.

The State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN) secretariat, in a statement, said Telupid had the highest number of evacuees, with 453 people from 129 families, who were evacuated to eight relief centres.

"A total of 122 people from 44 families were moved to three centres in Paitan, while 45 people from 12 families are taking shelter at a centre in Lahad Datu

"In Beaufort, 64 people (18 families) are being housed at one relief centre while in Beluran, six people (one family), were evacuated to a centre," it said.


In the meantime, the Sabah Public Works Department informed that Jalan SRK Batu 60 and Jalan Suasa have been closed to all vehicles due to floods and there was no alternative road for motorists for the time being.

Meanwhile, several areas on the west coast of Sabah including Kota Kinabalu, Penampang and Tuaran were hit by flash floods following heavy rain this evening.

A Bernama check found that among the affected areas were Bundusan, Kolombong, Kepayan, Lido, Sepanggar and Inanam in Kota Kinabalu; Penampang Lama, Taman Delima and Taman Penampang in Kota Kinabalu; and Telipok and Gayang in Tuaran.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department issued a warning for thunderstorms at 4.40 pm for areas on the west coast of Sabah, Sandakan, Telupid and the interiors of the state such as Tenom, Kuala Penyu, Beaufort, Keningau and Tambunan.

In JOHOR, the number of evacuees has dropped to 976 people as of 8 pm compared to 1,106 people, in the evening.


According to the Johor JPBN, two relief centres - at Sekolah Kebangsaan Mawai in Kota Tinggi and Sekolah Agama Sri Bertam in Batu Pahat - were closed this evening, bringing the number of centres down to 10, which housed 272 families.

"Batu Pahat still recorded the highest number of evacuees with 872 people, followed by Kota Tinggi (41) and Segamat (63)," it said in a statement.

Sungai Bekok in Batu Pahat still recorded water levels above the danger level with a reading of 18.71 metres.

-- BERNAMA