Flood Situation Worsens In Northern States As Evacuee Numbers Exceed 5,800
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 25 (Bernama) -- The number of flood evacuees housed at temporary relief centres in three states continued to rise to 5,806 people this morning, compared with 4,743 people last night.
In PERAK, the number of flood victims in the four affected districts — Larut Matang Selama, Manjung, Kerian and Perak Tengah — increased to 2,922 people from 993 families as of 8 am, up from 2,806 people (955 families) last night.
The Perak Disaster Management Committee Secretariat said one more PPS was opened, bringing the total to 26 centres currently operating to accommodate the growing number of evacuees.
In PENANG, flood victims rose to 1,026 people from 279 families this morning, compared with 928 people (252 families) last night, with all evacuees housed at seven relief centres.
According to the Social Welfare Department’s (JKM) disaster info portal, the seven centres are located across three districts — four in Seberang Perai Utara (SPU), two in Seberang Perai Tengah (SPT), and one in the Southwest on the island.
SPU recorded the highest number of evacuees at 778 people from 212 families, placed at SK Lahar Yooi, Sekolah Agama Rakyat Nyior Sebatang, the Labuh Banting flood shelter and SK Padang Menora.
In SPT, 217 people from 58 families were moved to SK Guar Perahu and SMK Permatang Pasir, while in the Southwest, 31 evacuees from nine families were housed at SK Tan Sri Awang Salleh.
In KEDAH, the number of evacuees continued to rise to 1,858 people from 587 families, compared with 1,009 people (312 families) last night. Six new temporary relief centres were opened, bringing the total to 14 operating centres, with Pokok Sena and Baling the latest districts affected.
“Four relief centres were opened in Baling — SK Siong, SK Seri Bayu, the old Dewan Tun Abdul Razak, and the Youth and Sports Complex — housing 251 people from 88 families.
“In Pokok Sena, one centre was opened at the Pokok Sena Multipurpose Hall, accommodating 85 people from 26 families,” a statement by the Kedah Disaster Management Committee read.
It said Kulim recorded the highest number of evacuees at 1,470 people from 449 families across eight PPS — including the Taman Sang Kancil surau, Kampung Paya Tok Betok hall, SMA Insaniah Jangkang and SJKC Khai Min.
“Three other temporary relief centres are the Sungai Karangan Community Hall, Kampung Padang Meha surau, and SK Merbau Pulas. Meanwhile, in Kuala Muda, 52 people from 24 families were relocated to SJKC Chong Cheng,” it said.
Meanwhile, the Public Infobanjir website issued a flood warning for Langkawi, predicting possible flooding in low-lying areas within a 5 km radius of Sungai Melaka in Kampung Padang Mat Sirat between 4 am and 6 pm today.
“Four rivers in Kedah have exceeded danger levels — Sungai Pendang in Pendang (3.26 metres), Sungai Chepir in Sik (36.7m), Sungai Ketil in Kampung Bongor, Baling (60.8m) and Sungai Titi Kerbau in Pendang (7m).
“Two other rivers are at alert levels — Sungai Nawa in Pokok Sena (9.97m) and Sungai Anak Bukit at Taman Aman in Kota Setar (2.1m),” the website reported.
-- BERNAMA
