Keeping afloat: Volunteer teams deploying boats for search and rescue missions across the Kuantan district. — Bernama
12 swollen rivers categorised as ‘dangerous’ due to heavy rain
PETALING JAYA: Monsoon floods have unleashed chaos across Pahang, displacing upwards of 11,000 residents and driving them into temporary relief centres as water levels continue to rise.
As of 2pm yesterday, the number of victims increased from 8,096 in 52 centres to 10,478 in 77 centres.
According to the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) and the Welfare Department Disaster Information Centre, the figure rose further to 11,730 victims in 79 centres as of 5.45pm.
The Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) have identified 12 rivers around Rompin, Kuantan, Pekan, Lipis and Jerantut as under “dangerous level”.
“These swollen rivers caused widespread flooding, prompting the need for evacuations,” the department said in their portal.
Residents have shared the impact of the situation through their social media accounts.
Che Fara Azila Che Aziz, 40, a business owner from Taman Seri Damai Aman, Kuantan, said together with her husband and two children, they were evacuated to the SK Fakeh relief centre on Wednesday.
“The floodwaters have slightly receded compared to the previous day.
“It is now ankle deep outside my house,” she said when contacted yesterday.
Other affected states are Terengganu, Johor, Selangor, Kelantan and Sarawak.
According to Nadma, as of 5.45pm yesterday, there are a total of 82 active centres with 10,705 victims from 3,400 families in the five states cumulatively.
The number of fatalities due to floods remains at three.
Keeping afloat: Volunteer teams deploying boats for search and rescue missions across the Kuantan district. — Bernama
Meanwhile, reports from DID said that two rivers in Terengganu – Sungai Besut and Sungai Kemaman – are under the dangerous level, along with Sungai Lebir in Kelantan, and two rivers near Miri, Sarawak.
Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) director-general Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anipa said the ongoing monsoon surge is expected to continue until today.
“Besides continuous rain warning for Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang, strong winds and a rough sea warning remains over South China Sea until Dec 22,” he said in a statement.
Mohd Hisham also said weather analysis showed that wind patterns in Sarawak from Dec 21 to 24 may increase moisture, causing thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong winds for several days.
The public is advised to keep abreast with the latest weather condition through the MetMalaysia website, official social media or the myCuaca app.
