ALOR SETAR: The number of flood victims in Baling who were evacuated to temporary relief centres (PPS) had increased to 499.
Baling OCPD Supt Shamsuddin Mamat said as of 5pm Wednesday (July 6) the victims, who were from 109 families, were placed at PPS in SMK Jerai and Surau An Nur.
"The number of students at SMK Agama Al-Khairiah remains at 78 with most of them from a total of 1,008 having returned to their parents.
“The flood is on its third day and the search and rescue operation has officially ended on Tuesday (July 5) after all the victims had been identified and rescued," he said at the media centre in Kampung Iboi.
Supt Shamsuddin said the focus now was on the cleaning and humanitarian mission which started at 8am on Wednesday at 12 villages in Kupang sub-district.
"There are about 120 houses that need to be cleaned.
“Some of the houses were either destroyed or washed away by the strong current," he said.
Supt Shamsuddin advised individuals, non-governmental organisations, corporate sector and anyone who wants to help in the humanitarian mission to register with the district office so that the efforts could be conducted properly.
He also said so far there had been no report of house break-in or theft in the affected areas.
“The victims can lodge a report at the police counter at the PPS if they suspect any theft at their house,” he said.
As of Tuesday (July 5), nine schools in the district were affected by the floods.
A continuous three-hour downpour that began at 2pm on Monday (July 4) caused Sungai Kupang water to overflow into residential areas.
Three people, including a pregnant woman, had died and hundreds of others were displaced in possibly the worst floods to hit the district.
