Malaysia: Continuous rain floods parts of Malaysia

Today Online 2 Jan 18;

KUALA LUMPUR — Parts of Malaysia were hit by floods on Tuesday (Jan 2) after constant rainfall over the long New Year weekend affected nearly 1,500 people in six states.

Pahang was one of the worst hit states, with over 700 people from 183 families from the Rompin, Kuantan and Jerantut districts evacuated to 11 flood relief centres.

Pahang Civil Defence Force director Zainal Yusof said 349 people from 95 families were evacuated to five relief centres in Rompin.

A total of 96 people from Kuantan were evacuated to four flood relief centres, while in Jerantut, two villages were cut off after the access road was flooded at about 11am on Monday.

The two villages — Kampung Teresek and Kampung Belebar — were inhabited by nine and six families, respectively.

In Johor, some 373 people from the districts of Mersing and Kota Tinggi were evacuated to nine flood relief centres.

Mr Ayub Rahmat, chairman of the State Health, Environment, Education and Information committee, said 95 families were evacuated from their homes early Tuesday morning.

“Mersing is currently the worst hit with 337 people seeking shelter at seven flood relief centres,” he said in a statement published on The Star Online.

“Two more centres were opened up at Kota Tinggi to accommodate 34 victims.”

In the east coast state of Terengganu, the number of flood victims in the Dungun district rose to 233 people from 79 families as of Tuesday morning, compared with 55 people from 20 families on Monday night.

The level of water from the nearby Sungai Dungun river is at 21.33m, which is above the 21m danger level.

In Kelantan, Astro Awani reported that 150 school children from the Gua Musang district were unable to attend the first day of the new school year after the nearby Galas river burst its banks.

Three areas in the district were inundated with flood waters and some 46 victims are currently being housed in relief centres.

In Sabah, 288 people from 78 families had to be evacuated when continuous rains caused flooding in villages near the Tongod district.

Three primary schools were closed in Sarawak due to floods, affecting 330 pupils. The Sarawak state disaster management committee said access roads to the three schools were cut off due to rising flood waters. AGENCIES


371 flood victims evacuated in Johor
kathleen ann kili The Star 2 Jan 18;

JOHOR BARU: The number of flood victims have risen to 371 people evacuated to nine flood relief centres in two districts in Johor.

State Health, Environment, Education and Information committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat said that the 95 families were evacuated from their homes as of 6am on Tuesday (Jan 2).

"Mersing is currently the worst hit with 337 people seeking shelter at seven flood relied centres.

"Two more centres were opened up at Kota Tinggi to accommodate 34 victims," he said in a statement here.

"The relevant government agencies are monitoring the situation to ensure victims are provided with necessary aid," he noted, adding that the downpour in Mersing continued.


Water level in Pahang's 3 major rivers surpasses danger level; flood evacuees up to 947 people
T N ALAGESH New Straits Times 2 Jan 18;

KUANTAN: The number of flood evacuees in Pahang rose to 947 as at 7pm compared to 489 people earlier today.

Pahang Civil Defence Force director Colonel Zainal Yusof said 458 people from 111 families were taking shelter at six flood relief centres in Rompin, while 489 people from 152 families were seeking shelter at seven relief centres in Kuantan.

The number of flood evacuees in Pahang rose to 947 as at 7pm compared to 489 people earlier today. Pic by NSTP / MUHD ASYRAF SAWAL
He said in Rompin, 168 people were seeking refuge at the Setajam multipurpose hall, 64 at Kampung Painggu Hall, 17 at the Telok Gading Hall, 53 at Kampung Sepayang multipurpose hall, 104 at SMK Pontian Jaya and 52 at SK Sarang Tiong.

In Kuantan, a total of 156 flood evacuees sought refuge at the Sri Damai public hall, 76 at Pandan 2 multipurpose hall, 30 at the District Drainage and Irrigation Department Hall, seven at Kampung Paya Bungor hall, 164 at SK Fakeh Abdul Samad, 52 at SMK Gudang Rasau and four at SMK Sungai Lembing.

Zainal said the water level at three main rivers – Sungai Belat in Sri Damai (5.84 m), Sungai Lepar (30.12 m) and Sungai Tembeling in Kuala Tahan, Jerantut (68.61m) – has surpassed its danger level and continues to show a rising trend.


Heavy rainfall set to subside
The Star 3 Jan 18;

PETALING JAYA: The heavy rainfall in Pa­­hang and Johor are expected to subside soon, prompting a downgrade from Red Alert to Orange Alert by the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia).

MetMalaysia director-general Alui Bahari said the weather had calmed down and heavy rainfall in these areas is only expected to last until today.

The Red Alert was earlier issued for Pekan and Rompin in Pahang and Mersing in Johor.

“Yesterday, we recorded more than 300mm in rainfall in some areas. But the wind patterns have now improved, so we are expecting lower rainfall.

Red Alert signifies continuous heavy rain exceeding 240mm a day while Orange Alert indicates continuous heavy rain for more than six hours and rainfall of at least 60mm.

Yellow Alert means continuous heavy rain for not more than six hours with rainfall of at least 60mm.

Yellow alerts have been issued for Kema­man in Terengganu; Kuantan in Pahang; Se­gamat, Kluang and Kota Tinggi in Johor; Ku­­dat, Sandakan, Penampang, Kota Kinabalu, Tua­ran, Kota Belud and Ranau in Sabah.

The alerts have been stopped for Dungun in Terengganu; Maran, Bera, Jerantut, Temer­loh and Bentong in Pahang; Tangkak, Muar and Batu Pahat in Johor; Jelebu, Jempol, Tam­pin, Kuala Pilah and Rembau in Negri Sembi­lan; and Melaka.

The notice was issued by MetMalaysia at 1.30pm yesterday.

Alui said no heavy rainfall or strong winds are expected to disrupt the festivities on Chinese New Year (Feb 16).

Meanwhile, a check on the Drainage and Irrigation Department’s (DID) publicinfo­banjir.water.gov.my website showed that water levels at certain river stations in Pahang and Johor were still above danger levels.

In Pahang, Sungai Tembeling, Kuala Tahan; Sungai Belat, Sri Damai; and Sungai Lepar, Jambatan Gelugor; have exceeded the danger level at their respective measuring stations.

In Johor, Sungai Lenik in Ladang Chaah exceeded the danger level of 6m by 0.03m.

Sungai Dungun in Kuala Jengai, Terengganu, also recorded water levels above the 21m mark by 0.64m.

Bernama reported that Kelantan DID ex­­pects floods to hit six districts in the state’s river basin at 1am today.

The Kelantan DID director Kamal Mustapha named the districts as Gua Musang, Kuala Krai, Machang, Pasir Mas, Tanah Merah and Tumpat.