KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 23 (Bernama) — The floods in Kelantan and Terengganu worsened this afternoon when more victims were evacuated.
In KELANTAN, 20,709 victims from 6,795 families in eight districts were evacuated compared to 20,468 people in the morning while the number of flood relief centres increased to 84 from 70.
The water levels at four major rivers rose above the danger levels with Sungai Golok at 10.34 metres (danger level: nine metres).
The other rivers which have breached the danger levels were Sungai Galas (42.08 metres) in Dabong, Gua Musang, Sungai Lebir in Tualang, Gua Musang (40.27 metres), Sungai Kelantan at Tangga Krai, Kuala Krai (29.10 metres) and Sungai Kelantan at Guillemard Bridge, Tanah Merah (17.95 metres).
The danger levels of the three rivers are 38 metres, 35 metres, 25 metres and 16 metres, respectively.
In Kuala Krai, 1,644 victims were evacuated to 21 centres in the afternoon compared to morning 1,328 people.
In Tanah Merah, 240 victims are at three centres compared to 141 at two centres in the morning, and in Jeli, the figure rose to 282 from 211, at one centre.
Meanwhile, the number of victims dropped to 3,513 afternoon from 3,692.
They are housed at 11 centres.
Likewise, in Pasir Mas, the number of evacuees dropped to 10,497 at 32 centres compared to 10,565 in the morning. The situation is similar in Tumpat, where 3,901 victims are at seven centres compared to previous 3,956 people.
The number of evacuees in Pasir Puteh meanwhile remains at 556 at four relief centres, and, in Machang, there are 19 victims at one centre.
The number of deaths due to the floods since Dec 16 remains at four.
In TERENGGANU, the number of victims evacuees rose drastically to 11,731 people in the afternoon from earlier 6,003, according to the Terengganu National Security Council’s portal.
The district of Kemaman recorded a significant rise in the afternoon with 5,487 people evacuated compared to 1,877 in the morning.
Generally, it could be said that the number of victims rose in all districts in the afternoon but the numbers in Marang and Setiu remain at 102 and 22 respectively.
The victims in Besut, however, increased to 495 from 186 in the morning and in Kuala Terengganu, to 2,732 from 1,081.
The number of evacuees rose to 2,205 from 2,174 in Dungun district, and to 686 from 585 in Hulu Terengganu.
A total 90 centres are still operating, namely in Besut (nine), Dungun (19), Hulu Terengganu (14) Kemaman (36), Kuala Terengganu (eight), Marang and Setiu (two each).
In PAHANG, the number of flood victims went up to 2,555 from 598 families compared to 2,386 from 560 families in the morning.
A Pahang police contingent headquarters’ flood operations room spokesman said floods also hit the district of Rompin, where 169 people from 38 families were evacuated to two centres which were opened Tuesday at 12.30pm.
“Five other districts, namely, Kuantan, Maran, Lipis, Pekan and Jerantut have 2,386 evacuees at 31 centres,” he said.
“Kuantan has recorded the highest number of evacuees at 1,421 (19 centres), Maran (594 at six centres), Lipis (325 at three centres), Pekan (25 at two centres) and Jerantut (21 at one centre,” he told BERNAMA.
He said six major roads in the districts of Kuantan, Lipis and Maran were closed to all vehicles.
These are Jalan Sungai Lembing-Kuantan (near Sungai Riau Bridge) and Jalan Kuantan-Sungai Lembing (Simpang Tiga Panching) in Kuantan, Jalan Lipis-Gua Musang and Jalan Lipis-Merapoh in Lipis, and Jalan Benta-Jerantut and Jalan Utama Bandar Maran in Maran.
The Malaysia Drainage and Irrigation Department’s website shows four major rivers in Pahang, including two in Jerantut, having exceeded the danger levels. The rest are Sungai Tembeling in Kuala Tahan and Sungai Pahang.
The water level of Sungai Tembeling in Kuala Tahan rose to 75.35 metres (danger level: 68 metres) and Sungai Pahang at Sungai Yap to 54.93 metres (danger level: 52 metres).
Two rivers in Kuantan, namely, Sungai Kuantan at Pasir Kemudi rose to 8.79 metres (danger level: 8.2 metres) and Sungai Kuantan Bypass (5.27 metres) (danger level:3.50 metres).
In PERLIS, floods started to inundate the northern part of the state since Monday following several days of continuous rain.
Residents in the affected areas were moved out late Monday night and the Perlis National Security Council (MKN) was monitoring the situation.
So far, 93 victims from 25 families have been evacuated to three relief centres, namely, at Mara Junior Science College (53), Malau Hall (29) and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Abi (11).
Among the areas affected are Beseri, Padang Melangit and Tasoh.
In SABAH, 137 flood victims from 49 families in five villages in Beaufort district were moved to the Baru Beaufort community hall since midnight.
Beaufort district officer Mohd Shaid Othman said floods inundated 23 other villages and cut off 10 roads except to heavy vehicles.
He said the water level of Sungai Padas in the morning was at 9.3 metres, exceeding the danger level.
This is the fourth occurence of floods in Tenom and Beaufort this year. Floods had hit the two areas in February, May and November.
–BERNAMA
