Floods: Number of evacuees rises to 4,737 people in Johor

JOHOR BARU: The number of flood victims has risen to 4,737 people from 1,282 families as of 8pm Monday (Jan 3) in Johor.

This is compared with 4,278 people from 1,130 families at 4pm.

Johor Health and Environment committee chairman R. Vidyananthan said another temporary relief centre (PPS) was opened bringing the total number to 71, with 3,554 victims from 958 families in Segamat housed at 49 PPS.

Vidyanathan said Mersing has 476 evacuees from 125 families at six PPS, while Kota Tinggi has 210 victims from 61 families at three PPS.

He said there were 297 people from 79 families at eight PPS in Tangkak; Kluang (71 victims from 23 families) at three PPS; Batu Pahat (77 people from 22 families) at one PPS, and Muar (52 people from 14 families) at two PPS.

He also said the PPS at Dewan Raya Sungai Tiram near here has closed.

Vidyananthan said the two people from one family from Kampung Paya Nam Heng in Ulu Tiram were allowed to go home as the flood situation had improved in their area.

“The Dewan Raya Sungai Tiram PPS was opened on Sunday (Jan 2) at 4pm and closed on Monday (Jan 3) at 7pm,’’ he said in a statement.

Vidyananthan said four rivers were still at dangerous levels - all in Segamat - namely Sungai Muar at Kampung Awat at 21.9m; Sungai Muar at Buloh Kasap at 10.77m; Sungai Segamat at 10.49m, and Sungai Lenik at 6.93m.

“The water level at Sungai Kesang in Kampung Seri Makmur in Tangkak is also at a dangerous level at 4.39m,’’ he said.

Vidyananthan added Jalan Kuala Paya Balai Badang, Jalan Putting, Jalan Jabi at Kampung Tempurung;

Jalan Tumang, Jalan Senai-Gemas (opposite Ajita glass plant) and Jalan Felda Medoi at the Jalan Maharani intersection in Segamat are closed to all vehicles.

He said on the other end, only heavy vehicles are allowed to use the three roads in Segamat, namely Jalan Serakek, Jalan Tungku Tiga and Jalan Pogoh at Kampung Limau Manis as well as Jalan Mawai Lama in Kota Tinggi.

“Only light vehicles are allowed to pass through Jalan Lingkaran Kahang Barat in Kluang as there is a landslide in the area,’’ said Vidyananthan.