Flood victims in three states evacuated from their homes

SEREMBAN: More flood victims from Negri Sembilan, Malacca and Johor had to be evacuated from their houses following continuous rain.

As of yesterday evening, the number of all the evacuees rose to 442 victims compared to 184 earlier in the morning.

Negri Sembilan Fire and Rescue Department director Norazam Khamis said 111 families were evacuated to five relief centres after their homes were inundated following continuous heavy rain.

The latest district to be hit was Rembau.

The relief centres were opened at Dewan Orang Ramai Sg Kelamah (seven victims from a family), Kampung Parit Buloh Community Hall (31 victims from nine families), Masjid Sungai Dua (22 victims from four families), Lubuk Cina, Rembau (18 victims from three families) and Taman Pinggiran Sg Kelamah (364 victims from 94 families).

Norazam said four boats, two five-tonne lorries and a three-tonne lorry had been used for the rescue mission.

They were assisted by 28 Fire and Rescue Department personnel.

He said Jalan Gemas-Gemenceh was reported to be cut off as the road was submerged and also closed to all vehicles.

In Malacca, eight relief centres have been opened in Jasin and Alor Gajah to accommodate 264 victims after their homes were inundated by floodwaters.

Malacca Civil Defence Depart­ment director Effendy Ali said 186 were housed in five relief centres in Alor Gajah, while 78 others were taking shelter at three centres in Jasin.

He said the relief centres in Alor Gajah were the community halls of Kampung Gadek (40), Bukit Balai Durian Tunggal (14), Bukit Tambun Durian Tunggal (eight), the Taman Seri Cahaya Tebong Machap surau (14) and SK Belimbing Dalam (19).

The three centres in Jasin were at SMK Simpang Bekoh (50), SK Chohong (25) and Asahan community hall (three).

“Twenty of the victims in Jasin are students of a religious school located in the district,” he said.

Effendy said the first relief centre was opened in Jasin at 1am and the number of evacuees at all centres was expected to rise following continuous heavy rain.

In Johor, two villages in Ledang district were hit by flash floods following heavy rains since the evening.

Ledang district Civil Defence Department officer Mohd Shahrizan Abd Aziz said only one house was affected, but the road connecting Kampung Sialang Dalam and Kampung Seberang Gajah was temporarily inaccessible to light vehicles.

“Apart from the heavy rains, the flash floods resulted when Sungai Asahan and Sungai Cohong near the villages overflowed,” he said. — Bernama