Floods: Number of evacuees in Johor, Pahang continues to rise

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 -- The flood situation in Johor and Pahang has worsened with the number of evacuees in flood-hit areas in both states continues to rise.

In JOHOR, the number of flood victims has steadily increased to 3,934 from 1,079 families as of noon today compared with 3,835 from 1,054 families reported this morning.

State Local government, Urban Well-being and Environment Committee chairman Tan Chen Choon said all the victims were being housed at 54 PPS across the seven districts - 10 in Mersing, 13 in Kota Tinggi, 21 in Kluang, six in Segamat, two in Batu Pahat and one each in Kulai and Muar.

In Batu Pahat, the PPS Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Seri Chomel was opened at 9.30 am, bringing the number of PPS in the district to two.

Meanwhile, in Kluang, the PPS Kampung Melayu Batu Empat Paloh community hall which was closed this morning, was reopened and currently housed five people from two families.

“Mersing recorded the highest number of victims at 1,265 people from 354 families, followed by Kluang with 1,129 people from 329 families,” he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, in Kota Tinggi, Jalan Batu 17 and 18, has been opened to heavy vehicles only.

In the meantime in PAHANG, the number of flood victims in Rompin rose to 756 people from 195 families as of noon, compared to 681 victims from 176 families this morning.

The Social Welfare Department (SWD)'s Disaster Info Portal reported that as of noon today, nine relief centres were operating in Rompin.

PPS SK Kampung Pianggu recorded 263 victims from 76 families, followed by PPS Kampung Setajam (172 people, 48 families), SK Sarang Tiong (117 people, 25 families) and Rompin Weightlifting hall (42 victims, 10) family), it said.

It also added that PPS Kampung Sepayang community hall currently accommodated 42 victims from 10 families, Teluk Gading Hall in Tanjung Gemok (30 victims, eight families), Surau Kampung Perpat (23 victims, four families), Bukit Lepas community hall (33 victims, eight families) and PPS Kampung Janglau community hall (34 victims, six families).

-- BERNAMA