KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 5,788 flood victims in Kedah, Penang and Perak remain sheltered at temporary relief centres (PPS) tonight.
In Kedah, the number of flood victims has risen again, with Padang Terap and Sik becoming the latest affected districts. A total of 1,708 people have been evacuated as of 8pm, compared with 1,562 this afternoon.
The State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN) said all victims are housed at 18 PPS across the districts of Padang Terap, Sik, Kulim, Baling, Pokok Sena and Pendang. Kulim recorded the highest number with 1,113 victims at eight PPS, followed by Baling with 343 victims at five PPS.
“In Padang Terap, one PPS has been opened at the Felda Lubuk Merbau Badminton Hall to house 40 victims, while in Sik, 79 people are taking shelter at two PPS — SK Danglau and SK Kampung Betong.
“In Pendang, 45 victims are at the Dewan Kompleks Rakan Sukan Tanah Merah PPS, while 88 people in Pokok Sena are at the Dewan Serbaguna Pokok Sena PPS,” the statement said.
According to the Public Infobanjir portal, six rivers in Kedah have exceeded the danger level: Sungai Pendang in Pendang (3.42m), Sungai Perik in Padang Terap (14.43m), Sungai Ketil in Kampung Bongor, Baling (60.27m), Sungai Laka in Kubang Pasu (22.47m), Sungai Titi Kerbau in Pendang (7m), and Sungai Anak Bukit in Taman Aman, Kota Setar (2.69m).
In Penang, the number of flood victims has continued to rise this evening, particularly in North Seberang Perai (SPU) and Central Seberang Perai (SPT), following continuous rain since this afternoon.
Based on the Social Welfare Department’s (JKM) latest update at 7.21pm, the total number of victims has increased to 1,187 across the SPU, SPT and Southwest districts, compared with 1,052 earlier today.
In SPU, 386 victims are housed at the SK Lahar Yooi PPS, 151 at the Sekolah Agama Rakyat Nyior Sebatang PPS, 128 at SK Padang Menora PPS and 119 at the Labuh Banting PPS.
In SPT, the number of victims rose to 369 from 220 this afternoon, with the majority (313) at SK Guar Perahu and 56 at SMK Permatang Pasir. The only PPS in the Southwest district, SK Tan Sri Awang Had Salleh, still shelters 34 victims.
Following yesterday’s landslip near Block 39, Taman Terubong Jaya, George Town, Paya Terubong assemblyman Wong Hon Wai said clean-up works at the site were completed today. He added that no development was taking place on the hill slope, and the landslip occurred due to heavy rain that caused soil movement and mud flow.
In Perak, the number of flood victims in the four affected districts — Larut Matang Selama (LMS), Manjung, Kerian and Perak Tengah — dropped slightly tonight to 2,893 from 2,963 this afternoon, with victims taking shelter at 28 PPS.
The Perak JPBN Secretariat said LMS recorded a decrease to 1,899 victims from 2,042 at 19 PPS, while Manjung saw a slight increase to 606 from 597 at five PPS. In Kerian, 278 victims remain at three PPS, and 110 at a PPS in Perak Tengah.
The secretariat also reported that water levels at the Bukit Merah reservoir and Sungai Slim remain at the danger mark.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
