Number of flood victims rises in Johor

JOHOR BARU: The number of flood victims in six districts of Johor has risen from 3,665 people from 967 families on Sunday (Jan 2) to 3,841 people from 1,008 families as at 8am on Monday (Jan 3).

State health and environment committee chairman R. Vidyananthan said the districts affected by floods are Johor Baru, Kota Tinggi, Kluang, Segamat, Mersing and Tangkak.

“The number of temporary relief centres opened in the six districts has also increased from 59 on Sunday to 62 on Monday," he said in a statement.

Vidyananthan said the majority of the victims are still from Segamat with 3,178 people from 828 families seeking shelter at 47 relief centres.

This was followed by Mersing with 366 people from 90 families at six centres; Kota Tinggi with 122 people from 41 families at three centres; and Tangkak with 120 victims from 31 families at two centres.

Kluang has 53 victims from 17 families at three centres, while Johor Baru has two people from one family at one centre.

Several rivers in Johor have recorded dangerous levels, namely: Sungai Kesang in Teluk Rimba, Tangkak which is now at 3.32m, up from 3m on Sunday; Sungai Segamat in Bandar Segamat at 10.5m, from 9.14m; and Sungai Muar, Simpang 5 Darat, Tangkak at 4.93m, from 4m.

Sungai Tangkak at Kampung Seri Makmur, Tangkak is now at 4.47m, from 4m; while the water level at Kampung Parit Tengah, Muar is now at 2.56m, from 2m.

Five roads have also been closed due to floods: Jalan Kampung Orang Asli Peta and Jalan Kampung Orang Asli Punan in Mersing; and Jalan Puting, Jalan Kuala Paya Balai Badang and Jalan Tumang in Segamat.

Meanwhile, two roads – Jalan Jabi Kampung Bukit Tempurung and Jalan Felda Medoi, Surau Kampung Logah in Segamat – are only accessible to heavy vehicles.