Flood situation eases in most places
PETALING JAYA: The flood situation in the affected states, except for Pahang, eased yesterday with more victims returning to their homes.
However, in GEORGE TOWN, residents staying in hill-side areas are on the alert for possible landslips after a continuous downpour on Friday caused several low-lying places in Penang to be flooded.
Many of these places are considered “high risk” following the major landslide in Tanjung Bungah which killed 11construction workers and a local supervisor.
Tanjung Bungah Residents’ Association chairman Meenakshi Raman said the area’s residents especially those living in hill side areas were still on alert when there is a heavy downpour each time.
To make matters worse, she said recent rains on Friday had also caused uneasiness after several people recorded on video a scene of water gushing down from the hill near the high-end condominium.
Meenakshi urged authorities to monitor the area and take immediate action should something amiss is suspected.
In TERENGGANU, state Civil Defence Force chief Lt-Col Che Adam A Rahman said 948 people from 207 families were still staying in shelters in Kemaman as of 8am yesterday.
Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Mentok was sheltering 843 people from 189 families whereas 105 people from 18 families were in surau Pulau Tempurung.
The school had to cancel classes because it had to serve as a flood relief centre.
In PAHANG, the number of flood evacuees was reported to have risen slightly to 1,301 people yesterday morning as compared with 1,256 people on Saturday night.
They were being housed in 19 shelters in Pekan, Maran, Bera and Kuantan.
In JOHOR, only 25 evacuees remained at shelters in Segamat: 15 people from three families in Kampung Mensudut Lama and 10 people from four families in Kampung Balai Badang.
Prime MInister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak yesterday praised the improved management of floods.
He praised the efforts taken so far to help flood victims in the affected states, which he described as smooth and better organised, while hoping improvements would continue to be made to provide comfort for victims.
“Thanks to all parties involved, especially Datuk Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim as the minister responsible for coordinating aid for the flood relief centres, as well as agencies involved in assisting the flood victims this time.
“We are grateful that the flood situation has improved, with many of the relief centres closed. The rest of the flood victims will be able to return home soon,” he said after spending almost an hour speaking to and exchanging greetings with many of the 62 flood victims sheltered at the Sri Damai Community Hall, the only relief centre that remains open in Kuantan.