Floods: Three states see drop in number of evacuees

KUALA LUMPUR: The flood situation in three affected states – Negri Sembilan, Melaka and Pahang – seems to be improving as of Thursday (Jan 6) morning with more evacuees returning to their homes.

However, Johor and Sabah reported a slight increase in evacuees.

In NEGRI SEMBILAN, the Social Welfare Department’s InfoBencana app stated that the number of flood victims dropped to 506 persons from 124 families at five relief centres as of 8am, down from 589 people from 148 families on Wednesday (Jan 5) night.

In MELAKA, the number dropped slightly to 466 victims from 126 families from 468 people from 128 families the previous night.

State Civil Defence Force director Lt Col (PA) Cuthbert John Martin Quadra said the victims were from 14 areas in Alor Gajah, nine in Melaka Tengah and 14 in Jasin.

In PAHANG, the state disaster management committee secretariat reported that 1,369 people were at 30 relief centres in five districts Thursday morning, down from 1,491 the night before.

Temerloh district had the highest number of flood victims at 510 from the first wave of floods in December, while those in Bera, Maran, Pekan and Rompin are evacuees from the second wave which began this year.

According to the Department of Irrigation and Drainage website, Sungai Bera and Sungai Serting in Bera, as well as Sungai Pahang in Kuala Sungai Chini, Pekan, are still above the danger level.

In JOHOR, the number of flood victims increased slightly to 4,449 people at 8am Thursday from 4,253 people Wednesday night, and they are being sheltered at 66 relief centres in the state.

State Health and Environment Committee chairman R. Vidyananthan said six districts were still affected by the floods with Segamat recording the highest number of victims, totalling 2,508 people from 685 families.

Meanwhile, Sungai Muar registered above danger level in four areas at 6am Thursday: Liang Batu and Kampung Olak Sepam in Muar; Kampung Awat in Segamat; and Buloh Kasap.

In SABAH, the state disaster management secretariat said Kota Marudu has the highest number of evacuees, with 2,668 people (1,161 families) at 14 PPS.

Other affected areas included Pitas, Telupid, Paitan and Sandakan, it said.

In SELANGOR, the InfoBencana app reported that the number of flood victims remained at 40 people at two relief centres in Kuala Langat.

According to the Info Banjir website, Sungai Bernam at Rimba KDR, Sabak Bernam is at danger level (2.9m); while Sungai Langat at Bukit Changgang, Kuala Langat (3.7m) and Sungai Tengi at Pekan Tanjong Karang, Kuala Selangor (2.01m) are at alert level as of 7.45am Thursday. – Bernama