People affected by mudflows in Kampung Baru Ringlet and Lembah Bertam, here, are carrying on with their daily chores as usual, said Cameron Highlands district police chief DSP Wan Zahari Wan Busu.

He said businesses in the affected areas were operating as normal despite the overcast weather and drizzling.

So far, 91 people from 28 families were still in evacuation centres at the Ringlet Community Hall.

"The rest of the flood victims have returned to their respective relatives' homes," he told Bernama today.

Some Kampung Baru Ringlet residents have also returned to clean their respective houses, he added.

"We have not allowed people to occupy their homes because the weather is unpredictable and fear flooding will recur," said Wan Zahari.

In the 6.30 pm incident on Wednesday, residents on the banks of the Sungai Bertam, near here, were directed to evacuate when the water in the Sultan Abu Bakar Dam was released in stages because the water level started increasing rapidly due to heavy rain.

Meanwhile, Ringlet Town was also hit by flash floods when the water level in the river nearby overflowed the river banks following heavy rain for one hour.

In the incident, five victims were killed while five others were injured.

It also affected 203 people from 47 families in Kampung Baru Ringlet and Lembah Bertam, who were forced to be moved to the Ringlet Community Hall.  

Sungai Bertam to be deepened

Separately, Natural Resource and Environment Minister Datuk Seri G Palanivel said improvement works including deepening

and repairing the banks of Sungai Bertam will begin next month.

He said the work could begin after the issues and compensation involving 11 lots of individually-owned land in Lembah Bertam, which were inundated by floods in October last year, was settled.

He said it would be implemented via a RM40 million allocation which was approved last year.

"Although the allocation was approved earlier, it will be implemented after the issues can be resolved," he told reporters after inspecting the flooded areas in Lembah Bertam today.

He said work to repair the banks including straightening the river must be implemented to prevent the floods in the area from recurring.

On the allocation of RM40 million to improve Tasik Ringlet, Palanivel said he would discuss the matter at the cabinet meeting next week.

"The water overflowed after heavy rain resulting in the Kampung Baru, Ringlet area being inundated. As such, improvements to the river must be implemented," he said.

In the incident at 6.30pm on Wednesday, residents along Sungai Bertam were ordered to move out when the water of the Sultan Abu Bakar Dam was released in stages due to its rising level following heavy rain.

The town of Ringlet was inundated by a flash flood when the water from the nearby river overflowed after an hour of heavy downpour.

Five people were killed and five were injured in the incident.

The floods also affected 203 residents from 47 families in Kampung Baru and Lembah Bertam who were moved to the Ringlet Community Hall.

- Bernama