Malaysian flood refugees continue to rise

Malaysia – When compared to yesterday, the number of flood refugees seeking shelter in relief centers (PPS) in Pahang, Johor, Melaka, Negri Sembilan, and Sabah increased this morning.

According to the State Disaster Management Committee Secretariat in Pahang, 2,188 flood casualties were recorded at 51 PPS across eight districts.

The second wave of floods has claimed the lives of 1,421 individuals, with the Lipis region recorded the largest number of evacuees (553), followed by Rompin (340), and Raub (330). (278).

Eight highways, including Jalan Sungai Lembing in Kuantan, Jalan Kuala Lumpur-Kuantan (Maran), Jalan Kuala Lumpur-Segamat (Pekan), Jalan Temerloh-Jerantut (Temerloh), and Jalan Bentong-Gua Musang, have been blocked owing to flooding (Lipis).

According to the DID website, six rivers in the state were in serious risk, including Sungai Tanum in Lipis, Sungai Pahang in Paya Gintong (Jerantut) and Kuala Krau (Temerloh), Sungai Serting in Pdg Gudang (Bera), Sungai Luit in Kampung Subuh (Maran), and Sungai Pukin in Kampung Subuh (Maran) (Rompin).

Rain is expected in all flood-affected areas in Pahang today, according to the Malaysian Meteorological Department.

At 8 a.m. today, the number of evacuees in Melaka had risen to 2,537, including 656 families, up from 1,778 (462 families) at 8 p.m. yesterday.

All of the casualties were from 14 locations in Alor Gajah, nine places in Melaka Tengah, and nine regions in Jasin, according to Melaka Civil Defence Department (APM) director Lt Kol (PA) Cuthbert John Martin Quadra.

He added that a total of 1,015 evacuees from 270 families are staying at 10 PPS in Alor Gajah, in which 1,391 from 356 families are staying at nine PPS in Melaka Tengah, and 131 from 30 families are staying at two PPS in Jasin.

The number of flood victims in Johor has risen to 3,841 across six districts, up from 2,553 persons recorded yesterday.

R. Vidyananthan, head of the State Health and Environment Committee, said Mersing was the latest area to be flooded, with 366 people from 90 families being evacuated to six PPS.

In Sabah, the number of evacuees increased again this morning, with 2,435 individuals from 874 households, up from 1,823 people from 599 families the night before.

Since last Friday, 23 PPS have been established in six districts in Sabah, according to the Sabah Disaster Management Secretariat.