Sg Lembing cut off by flood

KUANTAN: Heavy rain over the last few days has caused Sungai Lembing town to be cut off from Kuantan since Thursday.

Five locations along Jalan Kuantan-Sungai Lembing were flooded including KM30 and KM36 of Jalan Kuantan-Sungai Lembing and Jalan Kuantan-Sungai Lembing near Kampung Kolek.

The three stretches were impassable to all vehicles.

Two spots at the main road of Sungai Lembing town and KM28 of Jalan Kuantan-Sungai Lembing (Sungai Charu bridge) were closed to light vehicles.

According to State Secretary Datuk Seri Muhammad Safian Ismail, preparations have been made to deploy relief workers and send essential items to the affected areas.

“The Drainage and Irrigation Department has warned the National Security Council of heavy rainfall expected in Kuantan.

“As such, the council has activated and deployed rescue workers while the army has been placed on alert,” he said when contacted yesterday.

He said civil servants affected should not worry about coming late to work because of the situation. They could also apply for leave, Muhammad Safian added.

He added that boats and army vehicles were placed at the locations to ferry people to and from Sungai Lembing and Kuantan.

As of 12.30pm, a total of 794 people had been evacuated in Kuantan (541) and Pekan (253).

They were placed at five relief centres - Jaya Gading human development centre, Panching community hall, Sri Damai community hall, SMK Pandan in Kuantan and SK Sinar Mutiara in Pekan.

The flood victims were from Kampung Paya Panching, Kampung Batu 6 in Jalan Gambang, Kampung Seri Damai, Kampung Pandan 2/Kampung Chendering, Jaya Gading and Sungai Lembing in Kuantan and Kampung Cendera-wasih, Sungai Miang in Pekan.