Malaysia: Number of Pahang flood evacuees up to 9,892 despite kinder weather

TN Alagesh New Straits Times 4 Jan 18;

KUANTAN: Despite a more favourable weather across the state today, the number of flood evacuees continued to rise.

As at 7pm today, 9,892 from 2,652 families were forced out of their homes compared to 7,306 in the morning.

After floodwaters in Maran receded this afternoon, Bera is the latest district to be flooded as 36 people from 10 families were relocated to SK Kuala Triang and SK Charuk Puting about 3pm.

Six districts – Kuantan, Rompin, Pekan, Bera, Jerantut and Lipis – are still affected by the floods.

According to the Welfare Department’s flood portal, Kuantan remains the most severely-affected district with 7,840 people from 2,183 families seeking shelter at 31 relief centres.

Meanwhile, 714 victims from 190 families are seeking shelter in Rompin; 1,233 victims from 303 families in Pekan, 50 people from nine families in Jerantut, and 19 people from six families in Maran.


Schools reopen in flooded Kelantan, but rivers still above warning levels
MOHD SHAFUAN KHAIRI New Straits Times 4 Jan 18;

KOTA BARU: Five schools which were closed due to flooding in the state on Tuesday were reopened today.

Kelantan Education Director Zahari Othman said the schools resumed operations after floodwaters at access roads to the schools subsided overnight.

However, he said another school in Kuala Krai remains closed, forcing its 168 pupils to miss classes for another day.

"The school is SK Pasir Kelang. Its 168 pupils and 20 teachers have not been able to access the flooded school since Monday," he said in a statement.

The overall flood situation in Kelantan has improved – however, four rivers in the state are still above their warning levels as of 10am.

Pahang flood situation deteriorates; 7,306 people forced from homes
T N ALAGESH New Straits Times 4 Jan 18;

KUANTAN: The flood situation in Pahang has worsened due to non-stop downpours, and the number of residents forced to flee their homes has skyrocketed to 7,306 as of 9am today.

Lipis is the latest district to be hit by floods, with nine people from two families evacuated to the Tanjung Bungor multipurpose hall and the Lentang hall last night.

The worst-hit districts are Kuantan, Rompin, Pekan, Maran, Jerantut and Lipis, where the number of flood evacuees rose precipitously from 5,965 last night.

According to the Welfare Department’s flood portal, Kuantan remains the most severely-affected district with 5,663 people from 1,633 families seeking shelter at 24 relief centres.

Meanwhile, 665 victims from 178 families are seeking shelter in Rompin; 715 victims from 182 families in Pekan, 32 people from six families in Jerantut, and 222 people from 50 families in Maran.

A state Civil Defence Force (APM) spokesman said two villages in Lipis were inundated by floods at about 11pm on Wednesday, forcing the villagers’ relocation.

He said continuous heavy rain in several areas, and rising river levels could force more people to be relocated to relief centres today.

2.30pm UPDATE:

The worsening flood situation has forced 42 schools across the state to be closed today, 27 more than yesterday.

Eleven schools were closed on Tuesday, the first day of the new school term, and the number rose to 15 yesterday.

Pahang director of Education Dr Tajuddin Mohd Yunus said 15 schools were closed in Kuantan and Jerantut respectively, while four were shut in Temerloh.

He said three schools were closed in Lipis, two each in Pekan and Maran, and one in Bera.

Meanwhile, the Social Welfare Department’s ‘infobanjir’ app reported that as of 1pm, 8,296 flood evacuees from 2,289 families are seeking shelter in six districts in Pahang, compared to 7,306 people earlier today.