Johor Flood Situation Improving But Certain Roads Remain Closed In Segamat

Bernama 3 Feb 11;

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 3 (Bernama) -- The situation in flood-stricken areas in the country continued to improve with more flood victims returning home but flood waters were said to be rising in certain areas in the Segamat district.

Rising flood waters caused Jalan Segamat-Kuantan to be closed to all traffic while other roads in the district were passable only to heavy vehicles at noon Thursday, said a Segamat traffic police spokesman.

However, Jalan Yong Peng-Labis is now passable to all traffic, he told Bernama.

He advised road users to avoid inundated roads and abide by the police order.

Meanwhile, about 500 people, including locals, who are celebrating the Chinese New year, were stranded at the Buloh Kasap bridge as the road ahead and Jalan Segamat-Muar at Kampung Batu Badak was flooded.

A trader, who wished to be known only as Lim, 42, said he and family were heading for Gemas to celebrate the Chinese New Year but had to cancel his trip as the road was impassable to traffic.

Meanwhile, the number of flood victims sheltered at evacuation centres in Johor dropped from 41,095 at 8am to 36,923 at noon Thursday.

Flood evacuees in Segamat, the worst affected district, dropped from 15,179 to 11,841 at noon Thursday.

Of 8,661 families housed at 180 evacuation centres, 1,930 families are sheltered in Muar, Batu Pahat (1,337), Segamat (2,863), Kluang (380) Pontian (125), Kota Tinggi (272), Mersing (42) and Ledang (1,712).

The Johor Baharu and Kulaijaya evacuation centres have been closed.

In PAHANG, the number of flood victims from the Rompin and Temerloh districts rose to 2,265 Thursday from 2,167 Thursday morning.

A state police operations room spokesman said Rompin recorded the most number of victims at 1,808 from 236 families from five villages -- Bukit Serok (1,514 people), Kampung Rekoh (168), Kampung Kurnia Tanjung Gemok (83), Kampung Aur (37) and Kampung Lubuk Batu (six).

In Temerloh, 457 victims were sheltered at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Batu Kapor, SK Desa Bakti (82) and Sri Gading Hall (19), he added.

He said Jalan Kampung Baru Bukit Ibam, Jalan Kampung Inoi, Jalan Kempung Denai, Sungai Gayong Bridge, Kampung Lubuk Batu Kota Bahagia Bridge and Tanjung Kerayong Bridge, Mentakab were closed to all traffic.

Meanwhile the Meteorological Department has issued a warning of rough seas with waves up to 7.5 metres high and strong winds up to 70km per hour in Pahang waters which would be dangerous to shipping and coastal activities, including fishing.

In NEGERI SEMBILAN, the number of evacuees in the Tampin District dropped from 624 Wednesday to 563 at 3pm Thursday.

A state flood operations room spokesman said 556 of them were sheltered at Sekolah Tuanku, Gemas and seven more at the Kampung Tiong community hall.

He said the weather was fine while the Sungai Muar water level was receding.

-- BERNAMA