EAST COAST FLOOD ALERT
FLOODS in several districts in Kelantan and Terengganu yesterday foreshadow potentially serious inundation in the coming days and weeks. The Meteorological Department says severe thunderstorms can also be expected in Pahang, Johor and Kedah.
CONTINUOUS heavy rain in Kelantan since Saturday caused several districts, including Tanah Merah, Pasir Mas, Pasir Puteh and Kota Baru, to be flooded yesterday.
Kelantan police chief Datuk Hasanuddin Hassan said the number of flood victims rose to 370 up to 9.30pm.
The victims from 89 families have been placed at seven relief centres in the four districts.
“If rain continues, we expect more people to be evacuated as there will be more areas hit by floods,” he said.
Hasanuddin said five roads in Kuala Krai and Machang were closed to light traffic.
According to the state government’s flood portal, Sungai Golok in Rantau Panjang and Tanah Merah had risen above the normal mark.
Up to 6pm, the water level at Sungai Golok in Rantau Panjang rose to 7.76m, which is 0.76m above normal, while Sungai Golok in Tanah Merah reached 21.78m, which is 0.3m above the normal level.
Relevant agencies in Kelantan have placed some 8,000 officers on standby for flood-rescue missions and related operations.
Kelantan State Secretary Datuk Mohd Faudzi Che Mamat said preparations, such as flood relief centres, food supplies and equipment and helicopter landing bases, had been made.
“All the agencies, including the police, the state Welfare Department and the Fire and Rescue Department started operations yesterday (Saturday) as several areas in the state have been affected by flooding,” he said.
A total of 700 flood relief centres have been identified and can accommodate more than 200,000 evacuees.
Faudzi said there would be 217 front bases and 120 helicopter landing bases, of which 20 helicopter bases were set up in Gua Musang.
The Meteorological Department, in its website, had forecast heavy rain to continue over Tumpat, Pasir Mas, Kota Baru, Bachok, Pasir Puteh, Machang, Tanah Merah, Jeli, Kuala Krai and Gua Musang until Wednesday.
In Terengganu, Besut has become the first district in the state to be hit by floods.
Three days of continuous downpour have inundated several lowlying areas in Gong Kedak, while a 50m stretch in Jalan Seberang Jerteh at the border with Kelantan was submerged in floodwaters.
The water levels of two major rivers in Setiu rose yesterday with Sungai Chalok at the Chalok Bridge recording 7.47m, exceeding the normal 7m level, while Sungai Nerus in Kampung Pangkal rose to 20.57m (normal level is 20m).
In Kuantan, the Pahang government has activated its flood operations centre in Kuantan, Pekan, Bera and Rompin.
The state government has also ordered the other seven districts — Lipis, Raub, Jerantut, Maran, Temerloh, Bentong and Cameron Highlands — to be on alert.
State Secretary Datuk Seri Muhammad Safian Ismail said all state government agencies were ready to face the risk of floods and related incidents.
State Fire and Rescue Department assistant operations director Wan Mohd Nazlis Wan Ismail said all 1,035 personnel had also been placed on standby.
“Our state of preparedness has been intensified in light of rains in the state over the past few days,” he said, adding that the state Fire and Rescue Department and other agencies, such as the Civil Defence Force, were working together to face any eventualities. Additional reporting by Hidir Reduan
Page 1 pic: Siti Zaleha Mamat collecting her clothes before she was evacuated to the Kampung Dewan Besar flood relief centre in Machang, Kelantan, yesterday.