Floods: Pontian is seventh district in Johor to be hit by rising waters

JOHOR BARU: Pontian has become the latest district in Johor to be hit by floods bringing the total number of affected districts to seven.

The State Disaster Management Committee said as of 8pm, Wednesday (Jan 25), the number of flood victims is at 4,562 people from 1,275 families.

"The number of temporary relief centres (PPS) is now 48 PPS with the highest number of victims located at SK Kampung Tenang, Labis, Segamat with 477 people.

“This is followed by SMK Seri Perdana in Kluang with 360 people and Politeknik Mersing in Mersing with 353 people,” it said in a statement, here Wednesday.

The district with the highest number of evacuees is Segamat, with 1,536 victims, followed by Kluang (1,235), Mersing (851), Kota Tinggi (597), Muar (206), Batu Pahat (119), and Pontian (18).

Five river monitoring stations have also recorded water levels above the danger level, with three in Segamat, one in Kluang and one in Kulai.

The rivers are Sungai Gemas with a reading of 19.20 metres (m), Sungai Segamat (9.25m), Sungai Segamat Kecil (37.47m), Sungai Kahang (16.12m) and Sungai Pontian Besar (11.28m).

The stations that recorded water levels at the warning level are Sungai Muar in Segamat (19.88m), Sungai Sarang Buaya in Muar (3.11m), and Sungai Skudai (17.77m) in Kulai.

Warning levels are also recorded at Sungai Endau in Mersing (1.83m), and Sungai Sembrong in Batu Pahat (11.27m).

Eight road closures have also been announced namely Jalan Jemaluang, Jalan Nitar timur and Jalan Tanah Abang in Mersing, Jalan Ladang Siang, Jalan Mawai Lama, and Jalan Tanjung Sedili in Kota Tinggi.

Road closures also affect Jalan Sungai Tiram in Kulai and Jalan Jabi in Segamat.