Malaysia: Floods in Kelantan worsen, more people evacuated

The Star 2 Jan 17;

KOTA BARU: The situation in flood-hit Kelantan worsened slightly early Monday, with the number of evacuees rising to 1,284 from 346 families as at 8am, compared to 1,213 from 329 families at 8pm Sunday.

The level of Sungai Golok at Rantau Panjang continued to rise, measuring 10.19 metres compared to 9.58 metres on Sunday night. Its danger level is nine metres.

Kelantan Civil Defence Force director Zainuddin Hussin said the district of Kuala Krai had 510 evacuees from 132 families; Jeli 36 evacuees (14 families); Tanah Merah 312 (91); Pasir Mas 347 (91) and Machang 79 (18).

"All the evacuees are being accommodated at 30 relief centres in the five districts," he said when contacted.

Zainuddin said he anticipated the evacuation of more people in the afternoon, especially from Pasir and Tumpat, when the water from the upper reaches of swollen rivers came downstream.

Meanwhile, the state government portal, ebanjir.kelantan.gov.my, reported that the levels of three major rivers in Kelantan showed a decline as at 8am compared to 8pm yesterday.

Sungai Galas at Dabong measured 32.56 metres, down from 34.33 metres last night. Its danger level is 38 metres.

The level of Sungai Lebir at Tualang stood at 28.26 metres compared to 30.74 metres (alert level 35 metres) and that of Sungai Kelantan at the Krai Steps was 22.24 metres compared to 24.06 metres (alert level 25 metres). - Bernama


East coast Intercity rail service still disrupted by floods, landslides
BERNAMA New Straits Times 2 Jan 17;

KUALA LUMPUR: The Intercity train service for east coast routes, which has been disrupted since Dec 31 due to floods and a landslide in Dabong, has yet to return to normal.

Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) Head of Corporate Communication Ridhwan Arshad said that, in fact, the Intercity train service between Dabong and Kuala Krai is still suspended until further notice.

"The track restoration work is still ongoing," he said in a statement here today.

Meanwhile, Ridhwan said the Ekspres Timuran No.26 (JB Sentral-Tumpat) train service will be available only up to the Gua Musang station and from the station, passengers would have to proceed to Kuala Krai, Tanah Merah, Pasir Mas, Wakaf Bharu or Tumpat using the bus service provided by the KTMB.

Passengers heading to Dabong station, however, would be taken using the local train, he said. He said for Ekspres Timuran No. 27 (Tumpat-JB Sentral) train service, passengers would be required to take the train from the Tumpat station to Kuala Krai station, before proceeding by bus to the Gua Musang station where they would board the train to the JB Sentral station.

Ridhwan said KTMB anticipates a two-hour delay for each train and passengers who wish to claim refunds or reschedule their trips would be allowed to do so.

"We apologise for all the inconvenience caused. For further information, please call the KTMB call centre at 03-2267 1200 or visit our website at www.ktmb.com.my," he added. - Bernama


Floods force 9,200 to miss school in Kelantan
SHARANPAL SINGH RANDHAW, FARIK ZOLKEPLI, LOSHANA K SHAGAR, MARTIN CARVALHO, andNABILA AHMAD
The Star 3 Jan 17;

KOTA BARU: A total of 9,287schoolchildren were unable to attend classes at 29 primary and secondary schools in Kelantan on the second day of the 2017 school session due to floods.

The State Education Department said in a statement that the six secondary and 23 primary schools were located in four districts, namely Pasir Mas, Kuala Krai, Tanah Merah and Tumpat.

It said the access roads to the schools were flooded and it was dangerous for the pupils, students and teachers to attempt to go to the schools.

The closure of the schools affected 7,746 students of 13 schools in Pasir Mas, 588 students of six schools in Kuala Krai, 953 students of five schools in Tanah Merah and 214 students of a school in Tumpat, it said.

It named the Pasir Mas schools as SK Kampung Baru, SK Rahmat, SK Gual Tokdeh, SK Rantau Panjang, SK Lubok Stol, SK Sri Rantau Panjang 2, SK Kok Pauh, SK Sri Rantau Panjang 1, Sekolah Agama Bantuan Kerajaan (SABK) Al Falah Siram, SABK Diniah Bongor, SJK(C) Khay Boon, SMK Rantau Panjang and SMK Tiang Chandi.

The Kuala Krai schools were SK Pemberian, SK Bahagia, SK Ladang Taku, SK Pasir Kelang, SK Kuala Nal and SABK Saadatul Qura, it said.

The five of the six schools in Tanah Merah were SMK Ladang Kerilla, SK Ladang Kerilla, SK Sokor, SK Kampung Panjang and SK Tebing Tinggi while in Tumpat it was SK Pulau Beluru, it added.

The department said 788 teachers and other staff of the schools were also affected by the closure.

The department said it was monitoring the situation in the flood-affected areas and would make an announcement when the schools could re-open.

In Terengganu, State Education Department director Shafruddin Ali Hussin said only three of the 11 flood-hit schools in Terengganu remained closed.

The three schools affected by the floods were SK Kampung Sungai Las, SK Kampung Besut (both in Setiu) and SK Getang here. — Bernama


Kelantan floods: 30 schools to close tomorrow
The Star 2 Jan 17;

KOTA BARU: Thirty schools in Kelantan, namely in Pasir Mas, Tanah Merah, Kuala Krai and Tumpat, will be closed tomorrow due to floods.

The State Education Department in a statement here said the closure on the third day of the new school term would affect 9,501 students as well as 958 teachers and school staff.

Of the total, 7,746 students are from 18 schools in Pasir Mas, 953 students from five schools in Tanah Merah, 588 students from six schools in Kuala Krai and 214 students from a school in Tumpat.

The schools in Pasir Mas are Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Kampung Baru, SK Rahmat, SK Gual Tokdeh, SK Rantau Panjang, SK Lubok Stol, SK Sri Rantau Panjang 2, SK Kok Pauh, SK Sri Rantau Panjang 1, Sekolah Agama Bantuan Kerajaan (SABK) Al Falah Siram, SABK Diniah Bongor, Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) Khay Boon, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Rantau Panjang, SMK Tiang Chandi, SMK Gual Tinggi, SK Kedai Tanjong, SK Bakong, SK Gual Sitok and SMK Gual Periok.

In Kuala Krai, the schools are SK Pemberian, SK Bahagia, SK Ladang Taku, SK Pasir Kelang, SK Kuala Nal and SABK Saadatul Qura.

The five schools in Tanah Merah are SMK Ladang Kerilla, SK Ladang Kerilla, SK Sokor, SK Kampung Panjang and SK Tebing Tinggi while in Tumpat, only SK Pulau Beluru will be closed.

The statement said the closure was due to flooded roads, which would be dangerous to students and teachers. - Bernama

Rantau Panjang worst-hit so far
The Star 3 Jan 17;

PETALING JAYA: Rantau Panjang town in Kelantan is entirely flooded, the worst-hit by floods in the state so far.

And the weatherman is predicting more rain over parts of Kelantan and Terengganu for today and tomorrow.

National Disaster Management Agency operations director Datuk Azizan Taat said although other areas showed signs of receding floods, the town located along the state’s border with Thailand was still badly affected.

“Sungai Golok in Rantau Panjang is still above the danger level of 9m. We hope things will not get worse, but it’s hard to say with this uncertain weather,” he said.

A total of 1,284 people were evacuated from their homes yesterday as Sungai Golok rose to 10.22m, flooding Rantau Panjang town entirely.

The victims from 351 families had been evacuated to 27 relief centres. In addition, there are 510 evacuees in Kuala Krai, followed by Tanah Merah (312), Jeli (283), Pasir Mas (100) and Machang (79).

Azizan said the Fire and Rescue Service Department, Civil Defence Force and several volunteer groups were helping the victims.

They include Umno’s welfare bureau, which is handing out food and other essential items to victims at evacuation centres.

“We have begun giving aid to victims in Pasir Mas and will go to Machang, Tanah Merah, Kuala Krai and Jeli,” said bureau chief Datuk Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah.