Number of evacuees rises to 40,500

KUALA LUMPUR: The number of flood evacuees nationwide has risen to 40,500 currently seeking shelter in relief centres in six states, with Selangor becoming the latest state to be hit.

According to the Selangor Civil Defence Force State Disaster Manage-ment Committee, 107 people have been evacuated to two flood relief centres at SK Merbau Sempak in Sungai Buloh and a local council hall in Kuala Selangor.In Johor, the number of evacuees dropped slightly to 37,258 compared with 37,322 in the morning but two more centres were opened, bringing the total currently in operation in the state to 240 in nine districts.Segamat remained the worst-hit district, with 12,900 evacuees followed by Batu Pahat, Kluang, Kota Tinggi, Muar, Tangkak, Johor Baru, Mersing and Pontian.