Floods: Number of evacuees in five states continues to rise

KUALA LUMPUR: The number of flood victims in five states continues to rise on Thursday (March 2) evening, with a total of 29,091 flood victims housed in temporary relief centres (PPS) in five states - Johor, Pahang, Negri Sembilan, Sabah, and Melaka.

In JOHOR, the flood situation is becoming increasingly worrying, with the number of evacuees increasing to 26,633 as at 2pm, compared to 25,213 as at 8am.

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Seven more PPS have been opened, bringing the total to 193 relief centres in all 10 districts.

The State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) secretariat, in a statement, said Segamat was the worst affected district with 2,189 families evacuated to 60 relief centres, followed by Kluang with 1,571 families at 39 centres, Kota Tinggi with 774 families at 18 centres, Johor Bahru with 607 at 12 centres, and Pontian involving 60 families at four centres.

Also affected is the Muar district with 573 families housed at 15 PPS, Kulai (242 families at six centres), Mersing (150 families at six centres), Tangkak (255 families at 13 centres), and Batu Pahat (894 families at 22 centres.

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In PAHANG, the SDMC secretariat reported that 1,373 flood evacuees are still taking shelter in 25 PPS in five districts as of this afternoon.

Rompin had the highest number of evacuees at 662 in 10 PPS, followed by Maran (441 evacuees in seven PPS), Pekan (106 evacuees in two PPS), Jerantut (96 evacuees in one centre) and Raub (68 evacuees in five PPS).

In NEGRI SEMBILAN, the Social Welfare Department Info Bencana portal reported a total of 928 victims from 256 families as at 1pm compared to 704 victims from 197 families on Thursday morning.

It involved Tampin, Kuala Pilah and Jempol and all of the evacuees are currently taking shelter in 12 PPS.

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Meanwhile, in MELAKA, the number of evacuees dropped to 49 people from 15 families at noon Thursday compared to 67 people from 21 families at 8am.

The Melaka SDMC, in a statement, said eight victims from three families have been evacuated to Balai Raya Bukit Tambun PPS in Alor Gajah district, while only three victims from two families and 38 victims from 10 families are being housed in the PPS in SK Asahan and Chohong, respectively.

"All the affected victims involved residents from Kampung Bukit Balai, Kampung Bukit Tambun, Kampung Gadek, Kampung Panchor, Kampung Belimbing Dalam and Kampung Pulau in the Alor Gajah district," according to the statement.

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The flood-affected areas in Jasin involved Kampung Sungai Dua Asahan, Kampung Pondok Batang, Kampung Bukit Asahan, and Kampung Chohong.

In SABAH, the SDMC secretariat, in a statement, said,108 people from 24 families remained in a centre at Dewan Mini Kampung Simpang Entilibon in Tongod this evening.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued a warning of rain in one or two places in Sabah on Thursday night.

Meanwhile, Sabah Public Works Department (JKR), in a statement, reported a landslide on Jalan Kampung Buang Sayang, Kinabatangan, but the road is passable to traffic and advised road users to exercise caution. - Bernama