The situation in flood-hit areas of the east coast states of Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu improved further this afternoon with the number of flood evacuees dropped to 21,013 from 22,093 this morning.

In KELANTAN, the number of flood evacuees left at relief centres statewide dropped to 5,951 from 6,000 in the morning.

According to the state’s official portal, the victims comprised 3,318 people in Pasir Mas, 2,467 in Tumpat and 166 in Kota Baru.

The only flood relief centre in Pasir Puteh had also been closed after the remaining 18 victims were allowed to return home.

The water level at Sungai Golok in Rantau Panjang had also receded and returned to the normal level following the good weather condition today.

In TERENGGANU, the number of flood evacuees left at the relief centres also dropped to 14,880 from 16,413, involving 3,510 families, this morning.

Of the total, 9,601 from 1,214 families were still taking shelter at flood relief centres in Kemaman, followed by Dungun with 4,026 people (1,017 families) Kuala Terengganu with 953 people (220 families), Setiu with 185 people (44 families), Hulu Terengganu with 77 people (18 families) and Marang with 22 people (five families).

So far, only Besut had closed all its relief centres, while 37 others centres were still operational in Dungun, Kemaman (24), Kuala Terengganu (six), Setiu (three) and one each in Marang and Hulu Terengganu.

In PAHANG, only 182 victims from 46 families were left at the flood relief centre in SK Galing as their three villages were still flooded.

According to Pahang police contingent flood operation room spokesperson, the villages were Kampung Galing, Galing Besar and Taman Sri Kuantan.

Forty-four victims from nine families in Pekan had also been allowed to return home at 11am today.

Only the Jalan Kuantan by-pass at Km18 remained closed to the public as it was submerged under 0.18-metre of flood water.

Observe personal health and safety, folk advised

In PUTRAJAYA, the Health Ministry advised the people in the flood-hit states to observe personal health and safety and to adhere to instructions issued by the auhorities at all times.

Deputy director-general of health (public health) Dr Lokman Hakim Sulaiman also advised those suffering from heart ailment, hypertension and diabetes to ensure that they had sufficient supply of medicines to be taken along to relief centres.

“In case of shortage in the supply of the medicines, please bring your medical card to the relief centre and show it to the medical assistant or officer because there is a possibility that the clinic you frequented has also been flooded,” he said in a statement in Putrajaya today.

Dr Lokman Hakim said pregnant women, especially those reaching the due dates, were also advised to move into areas nearer to the hospital.

At the same time, he said flood victims should also avoid consuming unboiled water during the monsoon season and should seek immediate medical treatment in case of high fever.

Children should also be prevented from playing with floodwaters as it could be a potential source of many water-borne diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, hepatitis A and leptospirosis, he added.

- Bernama