Floods: Number of victims drops slightly in Johor, Segamat still has most evacuees

JOHOR BARU: The number of flood victims in Johor dropped slightly, says state Health and Environment committee chairman R. Vidyananthan.

He said there were 5,558 victims from 1,505 families as of Tuesday (Jan 4) at 4pm compared with 5,598 people from 1,516 families at noon.

He said two more temporary relief centres (PPS) were opened, bringing the total number of PPS to 81 from 79 previously.

He said Segamat still has the highest number of flood victims with 4,105 people from 1,116 families at 55 PPS, Mersing (546 people from 139 families) at seven PPS and Tangkak (472 victims from 119 families) at 10 PPS.

Vidyananthan said Kota Tinggi has 131 people from 38 families at two PPS, Kluang (116 victims from 35 families) at one PPS, while Muar has 116 people from 30 families at four PPS and Batu Pahat with 102 people from 28 families at two PPS.

“Four centres, one each in Segamat, Kota Tinggi, Batu Pahat and Tangkak were closed today,” he said in a statement.

The centres were Sekolah Agama Gemereh in Segamat; SK Semanggar, Kota Tinggi; SK Sri Sepakat Jaya and Sekolah Agama Bukit Banjar, Tangkak.

Vidyananthan said three rivers were still at dangerous levels in Segamat, namely Sungai Muar in Kampung Awat at 21.4m; Sungai Muar in Buloh Kasap at 11.18m, and Sungai Segamat in Segamat town at 9.51m.

“Sungai Muar in Kampung Olak Sepam, Muar at 2.7m, and Sungai Kesang in Kampung Seri Maamor, Tangkat at 4.24m are also at dangerous levels,’’ he said.

Vidyananthan said 10 roads in Segamat remained closed – Jalan Kuala Paya Balai Badang, Jalan Putting, Jalan Jabi Kampung Bukit Tempurong, Jalan Tumang, Jalan Serakek, Jalan Tungku Tiga, Jalan Pogoh Kampung Limau Manis, Jalan Felda Medoi Surau Kampung Logah, Jalan Senai-Gemas (opposite Ajiya Glass factory) and Jalan Felda Medoi at the Jalan Maharani intersection.

“The stretch in Jalan Tanah Abang in Segamat is only accessible for heavy vehicles while only light vehicles are allowed to pass through Jalan Lingkaran Kahang Barat in Kluang as there is a landslide in the area,” he said.