KUANTAN: Flood rescue operations in Pahang are continuing round the clock as the number of affected residents rises following several days of continuous rain.
Rescue teams comprising the Malaysian Civil Defence Force, Fire and Rescue Department, Royal Malaysia Police and the Malaysian Armed Forces have been fully mobilised to evacuate victims to temporary relief centres (PPS).
State Civil Defence director Col (PA) Che Adam A Rahman said evacuation operations in Kuantan have entered their third day since Monday (Dec 15) and are being carried out despite persistent rainfall.
He said each team, consisting of six to eight personnel, is deployed using 4WD vehicles or lorries, with operations focused on severely affected areas such as Seri Damai and Bunut Rendang.
"Some personnel have been on duty for between 12 and 16 hours but will be rotated to ensure they are able to rest before resuming operations, as rescue efforts are being conducted around the clock," he told Bernama.
Che Adam said rising water levels in several parts of the district due to heavy rain posed challenges, but operations continued with safety remaining the priority, adding that reinforcements from unaffected districts may be mobilised if necessary.
Meanwhile, Kuantan OCPD Asst Comm Ashari Abu Samah advised the public to avoid using flooded roads, particularly in low-lying areas and near rivers and major drains, following road closures to prevent accidents and threats to life.
He also urged the public to stay away from fast-flowing waters and to monitor official updates from authorities, assuring that police monitoring and deployment will continue to ensure public safety and smooth disaster relief operations.
As of 4pm Wednesday (Dec 17), the Social Welfare Department's Infobencana app recorded 3,796 flood victims from 1,206 families housed at 48 PPS in Kuantan, Maran, Rompin and Pekan, up from 2,860 victims from 889 families at 29 PPS earlier Wednesday. - Bernama
