Floods hit several states
THE number of people evacuated to relief centres is rising fast.
TERENGGANU and Melaka were the most affected as floods hit several states on the east and west coasts of the peninsula yesterday.
The floods come as the Malaysian Meteorological Department warns of continuous rain in Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang until next Sunday.
In Terengganu, 321 people from 68 families were sheltering at 31 relief centres in five districts yesterday. The state’s disaster management committee secretariat said the districts were Kemaman, Dungun, Marang, Hulu Terengganu and Besut.
Marang had the highest number of flood victims with 187 being housed in SK Simpang Rawai, Dewan Sivik Wakaf Tapai, Dewan Sivik Merchang and SK Pengkalan Berangan.
Four shelters were also opened in Dungun to accommodate 61 people from 12 families.
One shelter was opened in Kemaman’s Balairaya Beris Nenas.
In Melaka, 264 evacuees from 71 families are taking shelter at three relief centres.
In Perak, the number of evacuees remained unchanged with 68 people from 23 families staying at shelters in Larut, Matang and Selama districts.
In Kelantan, the number of evacuees rose to 40 from 30 overnight. They were housed at SMK Beris Panchor, Bachok.
The level of Sungai Golok in Rantau Panjang has reached 8.64m, surpassing the warning threshold of 8m.
Three other rivers at alert levels were Sungai Golok in Kuala Jambu, Tumpat, at 2.02m (which has an alert level of 2m), Sungai Melor in Bachok at 7.91m (alert level of 7m), and Sungai Semerak in Pasir Puteh at 2.24m (alert level of 2m).
In Rantau Panjang, flood-hit residents have transferred essential items onto emergency rafts to prevent them from being swept away by floodwaters.
Kampung Tersang resident, Noraman Ismail, 39, said he and his neighbours started moving items such as tables, sofas, bicycles, and electrical appliances onto the rafts yesterday after floodwaters rose to 0.4m around their homes.
He said this was their first time using rafts, which were donated by a non-governmental organisation in early October.
Each raft, measuring over 13 square metres, is shared by three families.
“We agreed to place only essential items to prevent them from being damaged.
“The rafts are tied to trees to keep them from being swept away by the flood currents and are tightly covered with canvas to protect them from rain.
“Floodwater in our area can be as deep as 3m, so we hope these rafts remain secure,” he said.
In Segamat, Johor, one flood shelter was opened at Balai Raya Gemereh 4 Batu Badak in the afternoon to house 11 victims from four families.
District disaster management committee chairman Mohd Masni Wakiman said the shelter was opened at 2pm after water overflowing from Sungai Muar began entering houses.
Segamat police chief Superintendent Ahmad Zamry Marinsah advised people to follow instructions to evacuate.
“Some people refused to leave their homes, which would complicate rescue efforts.
“I advise residents to heed the advice to evacuate.”
Page 1 pic: Mohamad Che Embong, 65, surveying a submerged jetty in Kampung Pulau Manis, Serada, near Kuala Terengganu, yesterday.