20 flood evacuees in Jeli, Machang return home

KOTA BARU: The flood situation in Kelantan improved slightly yesterday as the rains have eased since Wednesday.

This allowed more than 200 flood evacuees in Jeli and Machang to return home yesterday.

A spokesman from the state police headquarters’ flood operations room, said the number of flood evacuees in seven districts remained at 12,849 as of 2pm.

He said they were taking shelter at 73 relief centres in Pasir Mas where there were 9,622 people, Tanah Merah (1,249), Pasir Putih (821), Kota Baru (740), Tumpat (195), Kuala Krai (182) and Bachok (40).

In Tumpat, Norizah Nabila Shaari, 18, who was in confinement after giving birth to her first child 31 days ago, had to be evacuated yesterday with six other family members after their house in Kampung Teluk Jering was hit by flood. She was among 570 flood victims at the centre.

In Terengganu, relief centres in three districts were closed yesterday as the flood situation improved.

State Civil Defence Force chief Che Adam A. Rahman said Kuala Nerus closed its two centres by 11am, and Dungun and Marang completed the exercise by noon.

He said Besut had the highest number of victims still in relief centres with 558.

Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman’s personal mobile phone had been buzzing non-stop since the start of the monsoon season.

This followed his decision to establish a dedicated Hotline to cater to the deluge of messages he received daily.

The “24-hour Hotline MudahSokmo” can be reached at 036225994 (during office hours) and on mobile phone 0126103900 (after office hours).