Flood update: More than 9,000 evacuated in Johor

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): More than 9,000 people in Johor have been forced to evacuate to 93 temporary evacuation centres (PPS) in nine districts across the state after their homes were hits by floods following continuous heavy rainfall.

The affected districts are Mersing, Kota Tinggi, Kluang, Segamat, Pontian, Batu Pahat, Kulai, Johor Baru and Muar.

As of 8am Monday (Dec 16) morning, a total of 9,151 evacuees are at the relief centres, a slight increase from 9,043 people recorded at 9.30pm Sunday night.

State Local Government, Urban Well-being and Environment Committee chairman Tan Chen Choon said all victims were from 2,475 families.

“Kluang has recorded the highest number of evacuees with 2,666 people from 747 families followed by Kota Tinggi with 2,659 people from 695 families, ” he said.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department has issued dangerous weather warnings in Mersing and Kota Tinggi districts and severe weather warnings for Segamat, Muar, Batu Pahat, Kluang, Pontian, Kulai and Johor Baru, as well as an alert warning for Tangkak.

Jalan Mawai Lama and Jalan Dalam in Kota Tinggi are closed to all vehicles, while one lane of Jalan Telok Arong in Mersing, opens for light vehicles only.

In Pahang, heavy rain since Sunday have caused several areas in Rompin to be inundated with flood waters with 1,003 people from 256 families were forced to be evacuated to 10 PPS on Monday morning.

The Social Welfare Department’s Disaster Info Portal as of 7am Monday reported the increase in the number of evacuees compared to 858 from 232 families were given temporary shelter at PPS on Sunday night.

The PPS Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Pianggu recorded the highest number of victims at 284 people from 81 families; SK Sarang Tiong (208 people, 44 families); Kampung Setajam (187 people, 51 families); Rekoh community hall (119 people, 32 families); and Rompin Weightlfting hall (44 people, 11 families).

The water level in Sungai Pukin recorded a reading of 44.06m exceeded the alert level of 44m, with continuous rain expected Monday.

Meanwhile, in Sarawak, nine people were placed in a temporary evacuation centre at the Suarah hall, Marudi in Miri when their homes in Kampung Padang Kerbau were flooded due to heavy rain and high tide.

Elsewhere in Melaka, flood situation has fully recovered and 13 people from three families in Alor Gajah were allowed to return home at 9am on Monday morning.

Melaka disaster management committee secretariat chief Lt Col (PA) Effendy Ali said following the fine weather, the PPS at the Durian Tunggal Constituency Coordinating Committee (Japerun) complex, Bukit Balai, had been closed. – Bernama