Floods: Sarawak Sees Almost Two-Fold Increase In Number Of Evacuees

KUCHING, Dec 31 (Bernama) -- The number of flood victims in Sarawak rose to 380 people involving 97 families as of 4 pm today, compared with 197 victims recorded this morning.

According to the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (JPBN), all affected victims are from the Taman Desa Wira and Kampung Sinar Budi Baru areas here, with evacuations carried out to two temporary evacuation centres (PPS).

"Victims at the Stapok Community Hall PPS were reported to have increased compared with this morning, with the centre now housing 199 victims from 53 families.

"The R-Piang Hall PPS in Kampung Sinar Budi Baru is accommodating 181 victims from 44 families," it said in a statement today.

Yesterday, the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) issued a continuous rain warning at the alert level for several areas in Sarawak from today until tomorrow.

MetMalaysia said areas expected to be affected include Kuching, Serian, Samarahan, Sri Aman and Betong.

Meanwhile, the number of flood victims in Segamat, JOHOR increased to 120 people from 35 families as of 4 pm today, compared with 83 victims from 26 families earlier this morning.

Johor JPBN chairman Datuk Asman Shah Abd Rahman said in a statement that the increase followed the opening of two new PPS at 10 am today.

He said the two centres are Balai Raya Kuala Paya, housing 23 victims from five families, and the Balai Raya Kampung Sanglang, accommodating 14 victims from four families.

Meanwhile, two PPS that have been operating since last Sunday are the Kampung Tasek Multipurpose Hall, housing 43 victims from 14 families, and Balai Raya Kampung Batu Badak, accommodating 40 victims from 12 families.

In MELAKA, the number of flood victims remained at 36 people involving eight families as of 4 pm today, according to the InfoBencanaJKM application.

According to the application, all victims are housed at the Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Parit Penghulu PPS after their homes in Kampung Parit Perawas Benteng and Kampung Tasek Benteng were affected by flooding, believed to be caused by overflowing waters from Sungai Rambai.

In PAHANG, flooding in Rompin has fully subsided after all 81 victims from 21 families who were housed at a PPS were allowed to return to their homes today.

The Rompin District Disaster Management Committee Secretariat said the Kampung Setajam Village Hall PPS in Rompin, which was opened last Monday to accommodate flood-affected residents, was closed at 10.30 am today.

-- BERNAMA