Death toll from flooding rises to seven

Flooding claimed another life yesterday, bringing the death toll to seven, as rain continued to pound several states nationwide.

A man who was reported missing when his motorcycle was swept away by currents was found drowned at an oil palm plantation in Felda Kerteh 3, Dungun, Terengganu, yesterday.

The number of flood victims at temporary relief centres decreased to 99,823 as of last night, compared to 112,455 yesterday afternoon, with Kelantan still recording the highest number.

However, the flood situation in three states - Pahang, Perak and Johor - worsened, with an increase in evacuees reported as of 8pm, while all shelters in Negeri Sembilan have been completely closed.

In Kelantan, as of 8pm, the number of flood victims continued to decline to 62,507 individuals from 19,482 families housed in 169 relief centres, compared to 71,004 victims in the afternoon.

According to the Disaster Info Portal of the Social Welfare Department, Pasir Mas remains the district with the highest number of victims at 27,595, followed by Tumpat (21,070), Kota Bharu (1,421), Pasir Puteh (3,997), Kuala Krai (3,025), Bachok (3,355), Machang (1,618), and Tanah Merah (426).

The Kelantan Irrigation and Drainage Department’s flood portal reported that only two major rivers remain above the danger level, though they are receding: Sungai Golok in Rantau Panjang (10.34m) and Sungai Golok in Tumpat (4.03m).

Terengganu improves

In Terengganu, the number of evacuees at shelters in eight districts also dropped to 26,693 in 150 shelters last night, compared to 30,682 yesterday afternoon.

The State Disaster Management Committee reported that Dungun still has the highest number of evacuees at 8,363 in 32 relief centres, followed by Kuala Nerus (6,626 evacuees, 17 shelters), Besut (4,671 evacuees, 40 shelters), and Kuala Terengganu (3,891 evacuees, 12 shelters).

Other affected districts are Hulu Terengganu (1,136 evacuees, 21 shelters), Setiu (841 evacuees, 15 shelters), Marang (685 evacuees, nine shelters), and Kemaman (480 evacuees, four shelters).

River water levels at three monitoring stations - Parit Utama in Padang Kemunting and Sungai Nerus in Kampung Jeram, Kuala Nerus, and Sungai Telemong in Kuala Ping, Hulu Terengganu - remain above the danger mark.

Three others - Sungai Dungun at Jerangau Bridge in Dungun, Sungai Nerus at Kampung Bukit in Setiu, and Sungai Terengganu at the Terengganu Museum in Kuala Terengganu - have exceeded the warning level and are on an upward trend.

Declining numbers

In Kedah, the number of flood victims decreased to 7,143 from 2,176 families last night, down from 7,383 individuals from 2,234 families yesterday afternoon. They are housed in 42 relief centres across five affected districts.

Kedah Civil Defence Force deputy director Muhammad Suhaimi Mohd Zain said in a statement that Kota Setar continues to record the highest number of evacuees at 3,987 from 1,203 families, followed by Kubang Pasu (2,025 evacuees from 642 families), Pokok Sena (574 evacuees from 171 families), Padang Terap (311 evacuees from 89 families), and Sik (246 evacuees from 71 families).

In Perlis, the number of evacuees also declined to 43 last night, all housed at SK Arau.

In Malacca, only Jasin remains affected, with two shelters open, housing 161 evacuees from 42 families.

In Negeri Sembilan, all relief centres have been closed, with the last 74 evacuees from 22 families at a relief centre in Kuala Pilah having returned home yesterday evening.

Deluge worsens in 3 states

In contrast, Pahang recorded an increase in flood victims last night, with 1,745 evacuees from 572 families in 22 shelters, up from 1,607 evacuees from 526 families yesterday afternoon.

According to the Social Welfare Department Disaster Info Portal, 1,719 evacuees are housed in 20 relief centres in Raub, while 13 evacuees are at one relief centre each in Jerantut and Lipis.

In Perak, a District Disaster Management Committee spokesperson said the number of flood victims also rose last night to 607 evacuees from 184 families in 10 shelters, compared to 588 evacuees from 174 families yesterday afternoon.

Perak Tengah is the latest district to be hit by floods, with two relief centres opened in Bota and Kampung Gajah. Evacuation and registration efforts for victims are ongoing. Other affected districts include Larut, Matang and Selama, Kinta, Hilir Perak, and Kampar.

In Johor, flooding returned to Tangkak, bringing the total number of evacuees in the state to 924 from 264 families last night, up from 921 yesterday afternoon. They are housed in 18 relief centres.

State Disaster Management Committee chairperson Azmi Rohani stated that 878 evacuees from 251 families in Segamat remain in 17 shelters, while the remaining 46 evacuees from 13 families in Tangkak are housed in Dewan Serbaguna Penghulu Long.

He added that Balai Raya Kampung Jabi in Segamat was closed at 4pm after all evacuees were allowed to return home.

- Bernama

YOURSAY | M'sians always step up in times of disaster

PM lauds resilience of flood victims, enthusiasm of relief workers

PM calls for private sector to help with flood aid

Floods: Bersatu Women's wing supports call to postpone SPM

Floods worsen, 152k evacuees this morning

COMMENT | It's flood season… again!

NoFloods pilot project has potential to curb road flooding - minister

Flood worsens in 8 states after nearly 100k evacuated