Flood Situation On The Mend, Several Shelters Closed 

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26 (Bernama) -- The flood situation in Perak, Kedah and Penang is gradually improving with the number of victims decreasing  to 3,523 people this afternoon compared with 5,850 people this morning following the closure of several temporary evacuation centres (PPS).

In PERAK, the PPS at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Kampung Dew in Kerian was closed, leaving 27 PPS still operating as of 4 pm today, according to a statement from the Perak State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN) Secretariat.

According to the statement, the number of flood victims in four districts namely Larut Matang Selama (LMS), Manjung, Kerian and Perak Tengah, dropped to 1,339 people from 437 families compared with 2,467 people from 831 families earlier.

LMS recorded a decrease in victims to 555 people compared with 1,694 at 19 PPS, while in Manjung the number slightly decreased to 531 people compared with 541 people at five PPS.

As for the Kerian district, 143 victims remain sheltered at three PPS, while 110 victims are still placed at one PPS in Perak Tengah.

In KEDAH, the number of flood victims dropped to 1,335 people from 381 families compared with 1,934 people from 602 families this morning, with all victims from five districts housed at nine PPS.

JPBN Kedah in a statement informed that a total of 10 temporary evacuation centres were closed this afternoon, while Kulim district recorded the highest number of victims with 890 people from 252 families at five PPS, followed by Pendang with 279 people from 74 families at one PPS.

“Pokok Sena recorded 124 victims from 37 families at one PPS, Kubang Pasu recorded 23 victims from 11 families at one PPS, while Padang Terap recorded 19 victims from seven families at one PPS,” it said.

Meanwhile, the Public Infobanjir website reported that four rivers in Kedah exceeded the danger level namely Sungai Pendang in Pendang (3.54 metres), Sungai Laka in Kubang Pasu (21.61m), Sungai Titi Kerbau in Pendang (6.7m) and Sungai Padang Terap in Kubang Pasu (4.21m).

In PENANG, the only PPS in the Barat Daya District, Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Tan Sri Awang Had Salleh, which housed 34 people from 10 families this morning, was closed this afternoon.

According to the Social Welfare Department’s (JKM) Info Bencana portal as of 3.57 pm, the number of flood victims in Penang dropped to 849 people from 233 families at six PPS compared with 1,049 from 292 families at seven PPS this morning.

Seberang Perai Utara (SPU) continues to record the highest number of victims with 615 people from 165 families placed at four PPS, namely SK Lahar Yooi (291 people), SK Padang Menora (120 people), Sekolah Agama Rakyat Nyior Sebatang (85 people) and Labuh Banting Evacuation Centre (119 people).

In Seberang Perai Tengah, a total of 193 people from 58 families are housed at SK Guar Perahu, while 41 people from 10 families are placed at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Permatang Pasir.

Improved weather conditions and clear skies have caused floodwaters in several areas to recede, enabling residents to return to their homes.

-- BERNAMA