PETALING JAYA: Rain lashed many states in the peninsula, forcing about 14,000 people into evacuation centres, but the worst is not over.
Continuous heavy rain – both dangerous and severe – is expected in Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan, Pahang, Penang, Perak and Terengganu until tomorrow, the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has warned.
The department also issued caution in Perak (Kampar, Batang Padang and Muallim) and Pahang (Cameron Highlands, Lipis, Jerantut and Kuantan).
Meanwhile, the number of flood evacuees nationwide more than doubled to 13,915 people yesterday from 6,550 on Sunday, according to the National Disaster Control Centre.
This is due to heavy and intense rainfall in Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Penang, Perak, Perlis and Selangor.
Kelantan continues to face worsening conditions with a total of 9,503 people from 3,487 families taking shelter at 38 temporary relief centres (PPS) statewide.
This is followed by Perak with 1,538 people from 485 families in 20 PPS while Perlis has 1,426 victims from 426 families placed at seven PPS.
In Kedah, 542 victims from 168 families were in six PPS, Penang had 414 victims from 106 families at four PPS, Selangor had 283 victims from 94 families in six PPS while Terengganu had 209 victims from 78 families in one PPS.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he was closely monitoring the worsening flood situation in Malaysia, even from abroad in Kenya, where he is currently on an official visit.
In a Facebook post, Anwar said the floods had affected more than 15,000 people across seven states.
“The National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), together with all relevant agency assets, have been fully mobilised to affected areas to rescue those still trapped, as well as to ensure aid reaches all victims promptly,” he said.
He added that the Special Malaysia Search and Rescue Team (SMART) has been deployed to Kelantan, the hardest-hit state, and is on standby to move to other states to accelerate rescue operations and emergency aid on the ground.
The Skuad Ihsan Madani has also been mobilised to all affected areas to assist in managing the welfare of flood victims at nearly 100 temporary evacuation centres opened across the seven states.
Anwar urged residents in high-risk areas to remain vigilant and follow authorities’ instructions, especially when asked to evacuate immediately.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi has ordered the activation of the Public Works Department’s (JKR) Disaster Operations Room (BiGBen) at its headquarters to Level 3 with full 24-hour operations.
He said BiGBen will help coordinate all data on infrastructure damage nationwide, monitor the situation on the ground in real time, coordinate the movement of JKR technical teams in the states involved, and function as the main reference centre with Nadma and other relevant agencies.
“All state JKR have also been instructed to activate their respective operations rooms and report to BiGBen at the headquarters level,” he said.
