A total of 60 volunteers in a convoy of 28 four-wheel-drive vehicles embarked from Kuala Lumpur today on a mission to deliver basic items and four tonnes of foodstuff worth RM15,000 to victims in flood-affected areas in the East Coast.

Group spokesperson Muhd Izzat Hasif Roslan said the convoy was organised by Syarikat ProGabungan Jaya Venture to lighten the burden of flood victims at Rantau Panjang in Kelantan and Besut in Terengganu.

Muhd Izzat said the assistance in kind and foodstuff were contributed by members of the public for flood victims in Kelantan and Terengganu.

"We hope the assistance will relieve their burden and help them to get back on their feet," he told reporters after Sentul police chief ACP R Munusamy flagged off the convoy at about 4pm.

The number of flood victims in Kelantan dropped slightly to 12,771 people from 4,584 families as of 9pm, compared with 12,931 victims from 4,640 families four hours earlier at 5pm.

According to the Social Welfare Department through its Infobanjir application, a total of 29 relief centres remained opened to accommodate the flood victims in Pasir Mas, Tumpat and Pasir Puteh.

The district with the most number of evacuees was Pasir Mas which had 8,706 victims from 3,286 families at 21 relief centres, followed by Tumpat with 4,038 victims from 1,293 families, who were placed at seven evacuation centres.

There were 27 victims from five families placed at two relief centres in Pasir Puteh.

As the flood waters receded in Kelantan, more victims were expected to return to their homes tomorrow.

The number of flood evacuees in Terengganu declined slightly to 1,238 victims as at 9pm tonight, compared witt 1,302 victims in the evening.

According to the Social Welfare Department's Infobanjir website, the latest figure covered 316 families in seven relief centres in five districts.

Kuala Terengganu recorded the highest numbers of evacuees, with 944 victims from 235 families, Dungun (217 victims from 63 families), Marang (39 victims from 13 families) and Setiu (27 victims from five families).

In Besut, an evacuation centre in Pulau Perhentian was closed late this evening after the affected area was found to be safe and the victims were allowed to return home.

Three relief centres in Kuala Terengganu, two in Dungun and one each in Marang and Setiu are still open.

- Bernama