Downpour continues, 38,000 evacuated in Pahang

Heavy rain continued since early today while the number of flood evacuees at the 116 relief centres in Pahang reached a total of 38,235 at 1.30pm.

A spokesman for the flood operations room, state police contingent headquarters, said the people were advised to be alert in this weather condition.

"Kuantan still has the highest number of flood evacuees at 32,871 who are housed at 38 relief centres," he told Bernama in Kuantan today.

In Rompin, 172 victims are housed at four relief centres, Pekan 3,439 (at 25 relief centres), Maran 183 (five), Jerantut 519 (10), Lipis 53 (four), Temerloh 884 (22) and Bera 114 (eight).

Meanwhile, several main roads are still closed to traffic after being inundated up to more than a metre. Among the affected stretches are Km28 Jalan Sungai Lembing-Kuantan, Km72 Jalan Kuantan-Segamat and Km14 Jalan Temerloh-Bahau.

Police are asking residents to follow orders from the authorities to evacuate when the need arises.

"We fear that the incessant rain will cause more flooding in low-lying areas while floods may recur in areas where the waters have subsided," the spokesman said.

Dramatic rise in Terengganu

Meanwhile, the number of flood victims in Terengganu has risen to 22,706 this evening from 6,758 in the morning.

They include about 15,900 new flood victims who were evacuated to the relief centres, especially in the Kemaman district, following the second wave of flooding that started this evening.

According to the National Security Council (MKN) portal, the number of victims in Kemaman as at 3pm was 18,576 (from 4,177 families) compared to 2,450 (595 families) this morning.

It said heavy rain which returned and the high tide contributed to the floods, forcing more people to be evacuated.

Several villages which have not been flooded are now inundated, including Kampung Geliga, Banggol, Gong Pauh and Kampung Besut.

Of the relief centres, Sekolah Menengah Banggol Indah is the most crowded now with 5,012 flood victims from 1,100 families, followed by Sekolah Kebangsaan Geliga with 2,831 victims from 629 families.

The number of flood victims in Dungun district has dropped slightly from 4,101 (1,000 families) to 4,016 (982 families).

In Hulu Terengganu, the number of flood victims at the relief centres remained at 64 (17 families) and also in Marang at 44 (15 families) since this morning.

The number in Kuala Terengganu, which experienced flooding only from yesterday evening, remained at six (one family) who are housed at Sekolah Kebangsaan Felda Belara.

Overall, Terengganu recorded the evacuation of 5,192 families with 74 relief centres still in operation this evening.

- Bernama