Malaysia - Floods latest news

Flood warning for a few districts in three states effective until tomorrow: Malaysia

PETALING JAYA - Heavy rainfall and more flooding is expected in a few low-lying areas in Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang, the National Security Council has warned in a statement released on its flood portal.

The warning is effective for these areas until tomorrow.

A department spokesman said yesterday that the number of flood-affected victims in Setiu district, Terengganu, has increased to 245 victims involving 51 families.

A total of 47 people from 11 families were evacuated to a relief centre in Kampung Tasek in Setiu.

The spokesman said that six temporary evacuation centres are currently operational in Terengganu.

There has been no fatality in the floods reported so far.

However, there was some respite in Johor Baru for 495 flood victims from two villages Kg Laut and Kg Poh Chir Leng who were evacuated on Sunday and allowed to return home on Monday.

Single mother Tuminah Leman, 64, said she was happy to find that her furniture and electrical appliances were not destroyed in the 1.21m-flood.

"My neighbours managed to help me move my refrigerator and rice cooker onto the dinner table before I left my house in Kampung Laut for the evacuation centre," she said.

Tuminah left the centre at around 2pm on Monday.

Retiree Tan Tiam Hock, 70, said he spent the whole day yesterday washing his furniture and cleaning his house.

"The area where I stay in Kampung Poh Chir Leng is a flood-prone area so I have become used to the clean-up," he said.

Johor Baru (North) deputy OCPD Supt Mohd Akhir Ishak said the remaining 138 victims left the flood relief centre at around 8am yesterday when floodwaters in the two villages receded fully.

However, the 33 people seeking shelter at the Ayer Hitam flood relief centre in Batu Pahat were still unable to return to their houses as they were still flooded.

Batu Pahat OCPD Asst Comm Din Ahmed said that the residents from Kampung Cahaya Baru moved in four days ago and were still being housed at the evacuation centre.

"Persistent downpour had caused water to rise to about 3.3m last Friday and the water has yet to recede due to the occasional showers in the past few days," he said.

Cut the rubbish and prevent floods

PETALING JAYA - Malaysians can help prevent floods during the monsoon season just by throwing rubbish responsibly.

"The river near my house overflows its banks every time there is a downpour. People keep throwing rubbish into it, clogging it up," said Crisis Relief Services and Training spokesperson Olivia Chen.

She added that Malaysians could do more to educate themselves on the links between the environmental and natural disasters and better prepare themselves for emergency situations.

"The Government is doing an excellent job and always acts quickly to provide relief.

"However, in Malaysia, we get at least three months of heavy rain in a year.

"There is a lot that we can do with our surroundings during the remaining nine months to make them less flood-prone.

"The problem is that Malaysians tend to be reactive, not proactive," she said.

Chen added that her organisation has been trying to conduct more crisis response training workshops.

Mercy Malaysia Disaster Risk Reduction department head Puteri Yusof said that climate change and rapid urbanisation called for a greater need for preparednesss.

"If you live in a flood-prone area, such as a lowland, take measures to elevate your house. If there is a river nearby that always overflows, deepen it and make sure it is clear of trash," she said.

She added that remembering "K2P2" was one way to be ready.

"It means two 'knows' and two 'prepares'. Know the risks: identify which hazards in your home and surroundings pose the greatest threats. Know the warning signs: be alert to environmental changes which might sometimes signal danger. Prepare an evacuation plan: prepare a place to go and plan what to do in case of an emergency when you need to evacuate. Finally, prepare a grab bag: put essential items you might need into a bag you can easily get hold of in an emergency," she said.

The Star/Asia News Network

370 flee floods in Terengganu

The flood situation in Terengganu yesterday worsened with some 370 people evacuated to eight relief centres in Besut, Setiu and Hulu Terengganu and closure of two roads in Hulu Terengganu to all vehicles from 4.30pm onwards.

Besut was the hardest hit with 175 people evacuated after Sungai Besut rose to 20.68 metres, 1.48 metre above the danger mark.

Of the 175, 115 were from Kampung Keruak, while another 60 people from 14 families were from Kampung La.

In Setiu, evacuees from Kampung Merbau Menyusut who returned home on Monday were among the 115 people evacuated in the district yesterday.

The state government flood information portal http://etindakan.terengganu.gov.my showed that Sungai Setiu, Sungai Berang and Sungai Marang had breached the danger level.

Hulu Terengganu saw the heaviest rainfall with 238mm recorded in Kampung Menerong and Besut with 209mm recorded in Kampung La in the past 24 hours.

The Meteorological Department issued an Orange alert yesterday of sporadic heavy rain throughout Terengganu which could cause floods in low-lying areas. The weather condition is likely to last until today.

In KOTA BARU, 26 people were moved to a relief centre when floods hit Kampung Tasek in Pasir Putih.

State Secretary Datuk Zainuddin Ibrahim said they were the first group of evacuees since heavy rains began lashing the state on Sunday.

In KUANTAN, M. Hamzah Jamaluddin reports that state agencies were on alert after intermittent rains and thunderstorms were reported in the coastal areas from Monday.

Though no areas were affected yet by floods, the residents in flood-prone villages and housing areas in the state had started stocking up food supplies and essential items to prepare for the worse.

In MALACCA, Jason Gerald John reports that 24 people from five families from Parit Penghulu Benteng in Sungai Rambai, Jasin, were evacuated after their homes were hit by flash floods.

All the victims are currently seeking refuge at the SK Parit Penghulu.

In ALOR STAR, Nadia Badaruddin reports that 31,000 Malaysian Red Crescent Society volunteers are on standby to be deployed throughout the country in the event of major floods.

Nik Imran Abdullah and Satiman Jamin

New Straits Times

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