PETALING JAYA: The number of flood victims continues to rise in Selangor as tropical storm Senyar lashed the state, bringing heavy rain and strong winds since Thursday.
By noon yesterday, more than 3,400 people from 900 households – most of whom live near coastal areas – had been hit.
The figures were an increase from about 2,900 people involving 770 families reported the day before.
Data from the Selangor State Disaster Management Committee also showed that five districts were affected.
Kuala Selangor district recorded the highest number of victims at 2,573, followed by Sabak Bernam (243), Sepang (190), Klang (160) and Kuala Langat (38).
Around 400 were senior citizens, in addition to nearly 100 people with disabilities.
Twenty-six evacuation centres had been activated, according to figures from the Social Welfare Department.
At least five evacuation centres appeared to have exceeded or were nearing their capacity.
The centres were SK Desa Aman (107.6%), SK Parit Mahang (160.3%), SK Sultan Abdul Aziz (86.7%) and Bukit Kuching Tengah community hall (91.5%) in Kuala Selangor and SK Salak (93.5%) in Sepang.
Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari had said 1,173 evacuation centres – capable of housing 244,000 people – were ready to operate across the state.
These were in addition to 344 heavy-duty vehicles and 227 boats for carrying out rescue and relief missions, as well as 45 sirens placed at strategic locations to issue flood warnings.
“I urged Selangor residents to remain vigilant and to follow MetMalaysia (Malaysian Meteorological Department) updates. Be ready to evacuate should the situation worsen,” he said.
MetMalaysia warned the public to brace for unusually heavy rainfall until today.
Its director-general Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip said the storm would cross Selangor, Perak and Pahang, before making its way towards the east coast and subsequently joining a larger typhoon in the South China Sea tomorrow.
Heavy rain between 200mm and 300mm is forecast between Thursday and today, significantly higher than the 120mm to 150mm observed earlier this month.
The department said the storm had weakened but advised the public to remain cautious.
