Number of flood victims in Johor decreases slightly - After peaking at more than 47,000 victims affected by the floods, the number has dipped slightly

Number of flood victims in Johor decreases slightly

PETALING JAYA: After peaking at more than 47,000 victims affected by the floods, the number has dipped slightly as of noon Tuesday.

The total number of victims at the 247 relief centres throughout the state is now 42,019 from 10,009 families.

The weather in Segamat, however, is now clear, causing flood waters to recede and breath new life in the town.

Earlier, at 8am, some 47,838 victims from 11,491 families from districts in Johor were evacuated.

This was a surge from the 29,294 victims evacuated until 4pm on Monday.

As of 8am, Segamat recorded the highest number of people with 19,658 victims from 4,717 families followed by Kluang with 9,594 victims from 2,368 families.

In Segamat, as of 10am on Tuesday, tow trucks could be seen pulling cars out off ditches while excavators work to scrape debris and sand off the busy Jalan Segamat.

The road, which was inaccesible to vehicles, now sees hundreds of residents rushing back to their homes to assess the damage that was caused by the floods.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson from the Meteorological Department in Kuala Lumpur said Johor could expect fair weather Tuesday compared to three days ago with intermittent rains.

He said the weather was likely to improve within the next two to three days but the department would still maintain its alert yellow level.

In Muar, more villagers in Ledang and here have to be evacuated to relief centres after water levels in Sungai Chohong and Sungai Muar burst their banks on Monday.

The two districts have now recorded a total of 6,315 evacuees from 1,406 families who are placed at 46 relief centres and the number of evacuees is expected to increase later Tuesday.

Muar district officer Mislan Karmani said although the rain had stopped later Monday, water level in Sungai Muar kept rising due to down flow of water from Segamat and Labis.

He said the water level of Sungai Muar in Bukit Kepong recorded at 10am Tuesday was 6.41m, more than double the danger level of 3.04m.

He said according to the Muar Drainage and Irrigation Department, the level was very high and expected the flood to be worse than the floods in 2006.

“We want all residents living along the river to make the necessary preparations if they too have to be evacuated later.

“At the same time, we also urge parents to help look after the children to ensure their safety,” he said during his visit to relief centres in Pagoh, Lenga and Bukit Kepong.

He said the Health Department has sent teams to conduct medical and health checks on the victims and priority was given to the aged and pregnant women.

Meanwhile, in Ledang, the Gementah Segamat road near Km12 and the Chohong Tangkak road were cut-off and motorists have been urged to look for alternative routes.

A spokesperson at the Ledang flood operations centre said the Chohong Tangkak road had started to sink and police closed it for safety reasons.

He said villagers and motorists were advised to use the road to Kampung Lipat Kajang if they wanted to go to Tangkak from Chohong.

According to a Johor flood operations centre spokesperson, roads from Segamat going to Yong Peng can only be reached until Bukit Siput.

“In Segamat, roads have been closed at Jalan Muar-Segamat, Jalan Sungai Penarah at Jalan Muar (KM63), Jalan Johor Baru-Segamat (KM158), Jalan Johor Baru-Seremban(KM196) and Jalan Tangkak-Jasin,” he said.

He said that only heavy vehicles are able to access Jalan Muar-Labis, Jalan Felda Redong, Jalan Gunung, Jalan Johor Baru-Segamat (KM214) and Jalan Johor Baru-Seremban (KM217).

“There was one landslide report at Felda Kemelah, Kampung Sekinchan,” the spokesperson said.

He said in Kota Tinggi, Jalan Kota Tinggi-Mersing, Jalan Mawar- Sungai Mas, Jalan Kota Tinggi-Mersing (KM47), Jalan Kota Kechil, Jalan Lukut Cina, Jalan Pengerang was submerged by floods of 0.2 m.

“Roads at Jalan Kampung Kelantan have been closed and there was a river bank collapse at Jalan Kulai-Kota Tinggi,” he said.

He said in Kluang, roads have been closed at Jalan Kluang-Mersing (KM79-81), Jalan Kluang-Jemaluang. “Jalan Chamih-Sentral Paloh and Jalan Sekolah Kebangsaan-Jalan Layang Layang was submerged by 0.2m.

Meanwhile in Malacca, Bernama reports that the number of flood victims has increased to 4,545 as of 8am, an increase from the 2,889 individuals at 9pm on Monday night.

A spokesperson said Alor Gajah had the highest number of evacuees, which was 2,163 people from 504 families in 10 relief centres.

In Jasin, the number of victims at 14 centres were 1,254 from 309 families while the central Malacca district had 1,128 individuals from 258 families placed seven centres.

The spokesperson added there were no reports of death up to 8am.

Roads that remain closed to all vehicles are Jalan Taman Taman Merdeka, Jalan Angkasa Nuri and Jalan Pasar Borong, all located in Batu Berendam.

In Kuantan, the number of flood victims in Pahang has reduced from 800 to 705 after 95 people from Kampung Pasir Karak in Bentong returned to their homes Tuesday morning.

The remaining victims are now at 18 flood relief centres in Rompin and Raub.

As of 8am, there were 476 victims in Rompin and 229 in Raub.

However, readings taken at four stations show three rivers are above the warning level.

The rivers are Sungai Gayong and Sungai Lubuk Paku in Rompin and Sungai Batu Malim in Raub.

When contacted, state secretary Datuk Seri Muhammad Safian Ismail said there had been extraordinary rainfall in the affected districts for the last 48 hours that resulted in the floods.

“Although more rains are expected in the next 24 hours, we expect the situation will not worsen.

“We are ready to spring into action as preparations has been put in place since November,’’ he said.

He also said staff from related government agencies were on standby although a freeze on their annual leaves had been lifted on Jan 15.

“They must be ready to return to work in any case of emergency,’’ he added.

In Gemas, more than half of the people evacuated during the flood have been able to return to their homes as water levels began to decrease here.

Negri Sembilan disaster relief management committee chairman Datuk Mat Ali Hassan said only 2,393 people remained at relief centres.

“The rain has stopped and people are beginning to make their way back to their homes.

“However, we have opened a few more relief centres as a precautionary measure as there may be rain in the evening and later tonight,” he said.

He added that Jalan Tampin-Gemas through Sungai Kelamah was still inaccessible to vehicles.

Meanwhile, in Sabah the flood situation improved with all evacuees in northern Kota Marudu returning to their homes.

Kota Marudu district officer Luvita Koisun said the remaining 1,484 of the 2,279 evacuees were allowed home as of 8am Tuesday and the water levels Bongon-Kinarun river had returned to normal at 6.5m dropping from its earlier danger level of 8.5m.

“We are having clear skies and the overall situation is improving,” she said.

The situation in landslip-and flood-hit Sandakan was also improving with good weather over the past 24 hours and some 280 evacuees have returned home.

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