Floods forced 1,124 people to flee their homes in Terengganu, Kelantan, Perlis and Johor on the first day of the year.

In TERENGGANU, the state government's portal said the number of flood victims evacuated to relief centres in Besut and Setiu had risen to 753 this evening compared with 428 victims this afternoon.

The number of relief centres in the two districts had also increased with seven centres in Besut and two in Setiu.

A spokesman of the Terengganu Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) said the water level in Sungai Nerus in Kampung Langkap was still at the danger level of 21.7 metres at 4pm.

A total of 149 residents including 73 senior citizens at the Nurul Saadah Old Folks Home, Kampung Tok Dor, near Besut, ushered the new year sadly as flash floods inundated their homes at about 2am.

In JOHOR however, the number of flood victims in Segamat continued to drop with only 75 victims from 14 families still staying at four relief centres in Kampung Spangloi, Kampung Batu Badak, Kampung Sanglang and Kampung Pogoh this afternoon.

According to the National Security Council's portal, the water levels in Sungai Muar at Buloh Kasap, Segamat and Sungai Bekok at the Bekok Dam, Batu Pahat were still above the alert level at 8.94 metres and 17.16 metres respectively.

Several major roads closed

In KELANTAN, 26 people from six families in two villages, here, were moved to flood relief centres following a rainstorm since last night.

Pasir Puteh Fire and Rescue Department officer-in-charge, Kaharuddin Yahya said they were relocated to the halls of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Kamil and Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Awang.

"Their houses in Kampung Wakaf Bunut and Bukit Awang were inundated with between one and two metres of flood water," he said when contacted here, today.
    
He said the number did not include a victim of paralysis who had been sent to the Tengku Anis Hospital for treatment.

He said several roads were closed to light traffic including from Pasir Puteh to Jerteh, Pasir Puteh to Semerak and Pasir Puteh to Kota Baharu.

73 families affected in Perlis

A flood victim at Sekolah Menengah Kamil, Che Abdullah Che Mat, 72, said the flood water was chest deep in his house compound at 3am today.

Che Abdullah who was paralysed in both legs said his wife and himself were forced to leave when flood water entered their house to a depth of between 0.1 and 0.2 metres.

Meanwhile, a Pasir Puteh Drainage and Irrigation Department spokesman, when contacted, said the water level of Sungai Semarak at 10am was at the alert level of 2.4 metres.
    
In PERLIS, 270 victims from 73 families were evacuated to four relief centres at the Kok Mah Community Hall, Sekolah Kebangsaan Titi Tinggi, Dewan Padang Melaka and Sekolah Kebangsaan Batu Bertangkup since noon.

Perlis Menteri Besar, Md Isa Sabu said although the water level was rising in the northern parts of Perlis, the level at the Timah Tasoh Dam was still below the danger mark at around 28.2 metres.

- Bernama