Johor floods: All relief centres now closed as remaining evacuees go home

Flood evacuees at the Yong Peng multi-purpose hall temporary flood relief centre getting ready to return home on March 26, 2023.

JOHOR BARU: All temporary relief centres (PPS) in Johor have ceased operations after floods hit the state almost a month ago.

The state disaster management committee said the remaining 141 evacuees who were seeking shelter at two centres in Batu Pahat returned home as of noon on Sunday (March 26).

“The victims are from 37 families and have left SK Seri Medan and the Yong Peng multipurpose hall, the last two centres in operation.

“They are from areas such as Parit Terus, Parit Yusof, Parit Warijo, Kampung Parit Lapis Bangas, Taman Desa Suria, Taman Berlian, Taman Melur, Kampung Parit Awang and Kampung Baru B2,” it said in a statement.

The committee added that weather is reported fine statewide with no rain forecast by the Malaysian Meteorological Department.

All 10 districts in Johor experienced floods following heavy rain from Feb 28, with Segamat, Batu Pahat, Muar, Kota Tinggi and Tangkak being the most badly affected.

Although the weather improved over the weeks, Batu Pahat continued to be inundated due to the bowl-shaped terrain, which prevented floodwaters from flowing out to sea.

At the height of the recent floods, more than 50,000 people were evacuated to about 270 relief centres statewide while many others sought shelter with family and friends.