Malaysia: Flood havoc in Johor, Pahang

Hamzah Jamaluddin New Straits Times 3 Dec 13

ON ALERT: Police warn of more evacuations if wet spell continues

KUANTAN: THE first wave of flooding began in Pahang yesterday with more than 200 people evacuated here and in Rompin, Maran and Pekan.

As of 8pm yesterday, Maran was the worst hit with 90 people from Kampung Chendong, Kampung Bak Bak and Kampung Ulu Luit relocated to relief centres when their villages were flooded due to heavy rain since Sunday morning.

Another 77 people from seven villages in Rompin were evacuated.

Among the villages affected were Kampung Pertat, Kampung Kurnia, Kampung Pianggu and Kampung Kerpal.

Rompin police chief Deputy Superintendent Ahmad Johari Jahaya said the villagers were evacuated from 10am when floodwaters rose to more than a metre.

He advised people in flood-prone areas and along the river banks to be on alert as heavy rains were expected to continue over the next few days.

A state police operations centre spokesman said another 51 flood evacuees were from Kampung Padang Rumbia, Pekan while a family of eight in Kampung Chendor, Cherating near here were evacuated when their home was partially submerged.

A family of nine sought shelter at the Sungai Lembing police station when their home was badly affected by the floods.

"More people are expected to be evacuated as flood water is rising in several areas including the town area and Sungai Lembing," he said.

Among the affected areas here are Taman Pelindung Perdana, Taman Bukit Sekilau and Beserah.

Traffic was reduced to a crawl in the town centre when water rose to 0.5m at several stretches.

The Sungai Charu bridge at Km28 of Kuantan-Sungai Lembing road was closed to all vehicles when the river overflowed and part of the road caved in early yesterday.

In Johor, a downpour for the past 48 hours caused flash floods in several districts, leading to more than 691 victims being evacuated.

The victims are from housing estates in low lying areas in Segamat, Kluang and Mersing.

A Malaysian Metrological Department spokesman said more shelters would be opened if it continued to rain and the situation worsened.

Mersing recorded the highest number of evacuees with 260 victims from 64 families, who are seeking shelter at two centres at Sekolah Agama Air Papan and SK Tenglu.


Number of flood-affected rises in Johor
Desiree Tresa Gaspar The Star 3 Dec 13;

JOHOR BARU: The number of flood victims statewide has risen to 1,452, with the hardest hit area being Mersing.

State welfare director Khadijah Abdullah said in Mersing alone, 14 flood relief centres have been opened.

"Other than Mersing, six flood relief centres have also been opened in Segamat, two in Kluang and one in Kota Tinggi," she said when contacted Tuesday.

She added that a total of 354 families including children, babies and the elderly were being taken care of by welfare officers at the respective centres.

Flood situation worsens in Pahang
The Star 3 Dec 13;

KUANTAN: The flood situation in Pahang has worsened with more than 5,000 people in flood relief centres in four districts by Tuesday morning.

A spokesman at the Pahang police headquarters said the four districts were Rompin, Kuantan, Pekan and Maran.

"In Rompin, 2,595 victims from 23 kampungs have been placed in six centres," he said when contacted.

He said in Pekan, six kampungs were inundated, forcing 341 people to move to the centres, while in Kuantan, 23 kampungs were affected, causing 1,824 victims to be relocated to 23 centres.

In Maran, nine kampungs were hit, resulting in 633 victims having to take shelter in seven relief centres.

The situation is expected to worsen further following incessant rain since the past two days.

The spokesman also said that the Sungai Charu bridge at KM28 Jalan Sungai Lembing-Kuantan was closed to all traffic after the water level rose to nearly one metre at the stretch. - Bernama