Floods: 41 villagers evacuated in Baling

ALOR SETAR: A total of 41 people from several villages in Baling have been evacuated as their homes were flooded after torrential rains on Tuesday (Aug 2).

Kedah Civil Defence Force (APM) Disaster Operations Division chief Major Mohd Muaz Mohd Yusoff said the victims were from 12 families in the district.

He said among the areas affected were Kampung Rambong Batu, Kampung Bendang Sera, Kampung Jernang, Kampung Seratus and Kampung Tanjung Langsat.

"A total of 24 victims from eight families were placed at the temporary relief centre at SK Tengku Habsah and 17 people from four families were placed at the centre at Tun Abdul Razak Hall," he said on Wednesday (Aug 3).

Mohd Muaz said heavy rain on Tuesday caused the water level in the low-lying areas or near the river to rise and the victims had to be evacuated immediately to designated relief centres that were activated on Tuesday night.

He said apart from APM, other agencies involved in the operation were the district office, police, Fire and Rescue Department and People's Volunteer Corps (Rela).

He said the rain had stopped although the weather was still cloudy, and the river water was receding gradually.

Continuous rain for about an hour at 6pm on Tuesday caused Sungai Baling to overflow into the housing areas along its banks.

Authorities were alerted at about 7pm and a relief team was dispatched to the flooded area.