Floods: 2,143 victims from six states still at evacuation centres
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 2,143 flood victims in Perlis, Perak, Kedah, Penang, Johor and Selangor were still staying at the Temporary Evacuation Centres (PPS) until 9 o’clock this morning.
However, the figure was lower than the 2,345 victims who were evacuated yesterday with several PPS also having been closed.
In Selangor, two new PPS were opened in the districts of Gombak and Hulu Langat following heavy rains in several areas in the state yesterday afternoon.
According to a statement from the Smart Selangor Command Centre (SSCC) today, the opening of the two new PPS raised the number of such centres in the state as of 8am today to six including four in the district of Kuala Selangor involving an overall total of 885 victims from 285 families.
The two new PPS are the Matang Pagar Village Development and Security Community Hall (JKKK), which accommodated four victims from one family in Gombak, while the PPS at the Balairaya Majlis Pengurusan Komuniti Kampung (MPKK) Kampung Batu 10 Hulu Langat accommodated eight victims from two families.
In Perak, continuous rain from yesterday in Bidor had flooded the Kampung Sungai Klah Baru, Sungkai where 36 residents from 12 families had to be evacuated to the PPS.
According to a spokesman from the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Perak, an evacuation centre was opened at the Dewan Orang Ramai Sungai Klah Baru after the area was inundated under 0.9 metres (three feet) of water last night.
“The weather in most other areas in Perak was good but the Bidor area still experienced rain this morning,” he said when contacted by Bernama today.
Six other PPS were still open and the total number of victims in Perak stood at 723 people from 183 families this morning.
The Hilir Perak district recorded the highest number of flood victims at 341 people involving 89 families who were accommodated at three PPS namely 233 victims from 59 families at the Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Changkat Jong PPS, 62 victims from 16 families at the Dewan Majlis Perbandaran Teluk Intan, Langkap and SK Dato’ Yahya Subban (46 victims, 14 families).
In Kedah, 288 victims from 79 families were placed at three PPS covering the districts of Pendang, Kubang Pasu and Baling up to 8 o’clock this morning.
The number of flood victims in Pendang rose to 103 from 32 families compared with 98 victims from 30 families yesterday afternoon.
A check by Bernama at Sungai Pendang found that the water level was still at the danger level which was 2.90 meters compared to 2.98 meters yesterday although the weather was bright this morning.
Most of the victims settling by the river banks were also seen to have evacuated as a safety measure following the swift overflow of water from the hilly areas upstream.
In Johor, the number of victims affected by the floods remained unchanged at 176 victims from 46 families involving three districts as recorded at 8 pm last night.
Chairman of the State Committee on Local Government, Urban Wellbeing and Environment Tan Chen Choon said all affected victims were accommodated at six PPS involving the districts of Batu Pahat, Kulai and Kluang.
In Batu Pahat, Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Sungai Kajang was still accommodating 16 victims from three families who were affected by the storm on Oct 21.
“In Kulai, Masjid Al Muhajrin Kampung Melayu Bukit Batu, accommodated 64 victims from 16 families while the Surau Kampung Siam had 17 victims from five families.
“In Kluang, Balairaya Kampung Parit Haji Hashim accommodated two victims from two families, 51 victims from 15 families at the SK Seri Kampung Tengah Renggam and SK Sungai Linau, 26 victims from seven families,” he said in a statement today.
In Penang, the floods which affected the Seberang Perai Tengah District, here since last week were receding with only 23 victims still staying at the PPS this morning compared to 63 victims yesterday evening.
According to the Chairman of the Penang Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee Phee Boon Poh,as of this morning, only one family of four people stayed at the PPS Dewan Orang Ramai Taman Sukun while the Kampung Manggis Kemas Kindergarten accommodated 19 victims from six families.
“Following bright and improving weather since yesterday, several areas which were inundated had improved and many flood victims had been allowed to return to their respective homes,” he said.
Meanwhile in Perlis, only one PPS was opened in the Arau Parliamentary constituency following improved weather.
According to a statement from the Secretariat of the State Disaster Management Department (JPBN) of the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) Perlis, the PPS that was opened was at the Arau Civics Hall which accommodated 14 families involving 48 victims as at 7.30 this morning.
JPBN said the PPS that was opened in the Padang Besar Parliamentary constituency at Masjid Banggol Sena, Chuping had already been closed at 10 pm last night.
Bernama
