Flood Situation In Kelantan Worsens, More Victims Evacuated

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 29 (Bernama) -- The flood situation in Kelantan has worsened with the number of evacuees rising to 151,072 this morning from 134,139 last night.

State Social Welfare Department director, Nik Omar Nik Abdul Rahman said the flood victims from 36,128 families were housed at 309 relief centres in eight districts.

Kota Baharu district still has the highest number of flood evacuees at 44,061, followed by Tumpat (30,569), Pasir Mas (23,568), Kuala Krai (23,500), Gua Musang (17,327), Machang (8,289), Tanah Merah (3,546) and Pasir Puteh (192).

In PAHANG, the number of flood evacuees this morning has risen to 33,225 from 31,095 yesterday.

A spokeman for the flood operations room of the Pahang police contingent headquarters said that up to 9am today, Temerloh district recorded the highest number of flood evacuees in the state with 12,012 housed at 71 relief centres.

Six other affected districts are Kuantan (with 3,046 evacuees at 17 relief centres), Pekan (4,873/17), Maran (3,479/33), Jerantut (6,025/59), Bera (1,491/14) and Lipis (2,299/31).

The spokesman said the East-Coast Expressway in both directions and the old road were still closed to traffic.

Road users heading to Kuantan from Kuala Lumpur are advised to use the alternative route through Seremban-Kuala Pilah-Serting-Muadzam Shah-Kuantan and vice versa.

In PERAK, the number of evacuees has also risen to 7,813 this morning from 7,539 last night.

A spokesman for the Perak National Security Council (MKN) said the victims were housed at 54 flood relief centres - Kuala Kangsar (22), Central Perak (20), Hulu Perak (11) and Kerian (one). -- MORE FLOOD-ROUNDUP (MORNING) 3 KUALA LUMPUR In Central Perak, there were now 4,220 evacuees, Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Siput (2,565), Hulu Perak (738) and Kerian (290). In TERENGGANU, the number of evacuess has dropped to 33,260 this morning from 36,210 last night.

Kemaman is left with 22,214 evacuees after almost 3,000 were allowed to return home after the flood waters subsided. Dungun district still has 10,138 evacuees, Kuala Terengganu 759 and Hulu Terengganu 149.

The number of flood relief centres operating has also dropped from 88 last night to 79 this morning - Dungun (34), Hulu Terengganu (four), Kemaman 35 and Kuala Terengganu (six).

-- BERNAMA