Teen drowns in first flood death
Relief centres open after floodwaters rise in Gemas
MUAR: A 14-year-old boy drowned in a swollen monsoon drain in Ledang, Johor, making him the first fatality of floods caused by continous rain lashing the southern end of the peninsula,
Abdul Hadi Abdul Hamid was swept away at around 2.30pm while playing in a drain at Kampung Tanjung Labuh, with two of his friends.
A Tangkak Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said the boy’s body was found at the bottom of the 3.6m deep drain.
Thunderstorms and heavy rain continued in Johor, Malacca and Negri Sembilan, resulting in many low-lying districts of the states being flooded and main roads cut off.
The worst state hit was Malacca, where the number of flood victims rose from 3,092 at noon yesterday to 4,382 by late evening.
State Civil Defence Department Director Effendy Ali said 16 flood evacuation centres had been set up in the Melaka Tengah, Alor Gajah and Jasin districts.
In Negri Sembilan, the Gemas-Gemencheh trunk road was closed to traffic.
The number of flood victims in the state dropped from 671 yesterday morning to 648, all of whom were brought to five relief centres in the Rembau and Tampin districts.
In Johor, 79 victims sought shelter at relief centres in the Segamat district after floods hit Kampung Awat, Kampung Seberang Gajah, Kampung Sialang Dalam and Kampung Tanjong Laboh after two rivers near the villages – Sungai Asahan and Sungai Chohong – overflowed their banks.
MUAR: A flood relief centre has been opened in Segamat district after flood waters in Kampung Awat, Gemas rose following heavy rain.
According to the Segamat District Disaster Management Committee, 20 people from five families were moved to the Kampung Awat community hall.
In Ledang district, 59 victims are still being housed at SK Sialang.
Ledang Department of Civil Defence officer Mohd Shahrizan Abd Aziz said they comprised 34 adults, 15 children, five senior citizens, one handicapped person and four babies.
All the victims were from Kampung Seberang Gajah, Kampung Sialang Dalam and Kampung Tanjong Laboh, he added.
He said there was sufficient supply of food and other basic necessities for the victims. "They are all in good health except for an elderly villager who was referred to Tangkak Hospital for a medical examination, but he is alright,” Mohd Shahrizan said.
He said all the relevant agencies were monitoring the situation and on the alert.
They are all in good health except for an elderly villager who was referred to the Tangkak hospital.
Mohd Shahrizan Abd Aziz