Clear skies in Johor, over 5,000 flood evacuees remain in relief centres

JOHOR BARU: Clear skies have been reported across Johor though the number of flood evacuees remains over 5,000 people.

State health and environment committee chairman R. Vidyananthan said as of noon on Wednesday (Jan 5), a total of 5,486 individuals from 1,456 families were still at 80 flood relief centres.

"The number of evacuees went up slightly compared to the 5,399 recorded at 8am.

"Segamat is still the most affected district with 50 relief centres operating followed by Tangkak (13), Mersing (seven), Muar (five), Kota Tinggi (two), Batu Pahat (two), Kluang (one).

"According to the state disaster management committee, the weather is sunny in all 10 districts in Johor as of 12pm while several districts like Johor Baru, Muar, Batu Pahat, Segamat and Kota Tinggi have been experiencing sunny weather since 8am," he said.

Vidyananthan added that the Johor Health Department had been mobilising medical teams and the state disaster medical relief vehicles to the ground and flood relief centres to assist victims since the floods started.

On Tuesday (Jan 4), a total of 99 medical and health teams comprising 299 personnel were at all the relief centres in the state to provide medical attention.

"The teams are monitoring the 17 pregnant women, three post-natal mothers, three hemodialysis patients and one patient requiring palliative care," said Vidyananthan.

Meanwhile, nine roads remain closed in Segamat due to the floods namely Jalan Kuala Paya Balai Badang, Jalan Putting, Jalan Tumang, Jalan Serakek, Jalan Tungku Tiga, Jalan Pogoh, Jalan Balai Polis Buloh Kasap (Kampung Tangdung), Jalan Senai-Gemas and Jalan Felda Medoi while Jalan Tebing Tinggi was only accessible by heavy vehicles.

Other temporarily closed roads were Jalan Muar-Labis, before the Sungai Tui bridge, in Muar, Jalan Durian Condong in Tangkak before the Durian Condong bridge heading towards Bukit Kepong.

In Kluang, soil erosion occurred in three locations - Jalan Lingkaran Kahang Barat, Jalan Padang Tembak and Jalan Kota Tinggi-Kluang - and road users were advised to use the alternative roads in those areas.