(AFP) Floods continue to wreak havoc in the country's eastern states, with one more person found dead and thousands forced to abandon their homes, reports said today.

After three days of widespread flooding in Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu states, thousands of people have been evacuated to relief centers, the official Bernama news agency said.

The latest victim was identified as Abdul Manaf Muda, 67. He was found dead in his house after a nearby river overflowed and flooded his home, Bernama said.

"The police ordered an evacuation as the water was rising fast but the victim reportedly refused to budge as he wanted to wait for his son to fetch him," Onong Muda, a local police chief was quoted as saying.

Celebrations cancelled

The floods have also forced those of Christian faith to cancel Christmas celebrations.

One of them is Robin James, 35, of Pahang state whose house was submerged by water.

"All the preparations had gone to waste and even the Christmas tree in my house is wet," he was quoted as saying by The Star newspaper.

"And even if the situation improves, the feeling of celebration has gone," he lamented.

James said there would a lot of cleaning up to do when the floodwaters receded.

Bernama said numerous roads in the three states remained closed to all traffic.

Bernama said 8,149 people in Pahang; 1,436 in Kelantan and 651 in Terengganu had been evacuated to relief centers.

The Meteorological department expects more rain in some of the states.