The flood situation in Terengganu continues to improve, with the number of evacuees in Kemaman having dropped to 948 victims from 207 families as of 8pm compared with 2,270 people from 541 families this morning.

State Civil Defence Force director Lt Col Che Adam A Rahman said the sudden drop in the number of flood victims followed the closure of seven relief centres in Kemaman today.

"The seven relief centres are Kampung Ban Ho Surau, Kampung Pasir Gajah, Felda Seberang Tayor community hall, Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Chukai, SK Binjai, Kemaman Municipal Council Berlian hall and SK Seri Iman.

“All the 1,322 evacuees from 334 families in the seven relief centres were allowed to return to their homes after the flood water receded today,” he said.

At present, only two relief centres are still operating, namely SK Bukit Mentok where the number of evacuees remained unchanged at 843 people from 189 families as this morning, while at Pulau Tempurung surau the number of evacuees remained at 105 people from 18 families.

Che Adam said more evacuees would be allowed to return to their homes if the good weather continues tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Terengganu Education Department director Shafruddin Ali Hussin said only one school would be closed tomorrow, SK Bukit Mentok as it was being used as a relief centre.

"It involves 570 students, 43 teachers and four members of the implementing group while the other five schools closed on Thursday have been cleaned up and can operate normally from tomorrow,” he said.

All Johor schools to resume operations

In Johor, 38 evacuees in Segamat district were still housed at relief centres until 9pm today.

They were being accommodated at Kampung Mensudut Lama community hall and Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Balai Badang, said Johor Health, Environment, Education and Information Committee chairman Ayub Rahmat.

Meanwhile, all schools affected by the floods in Johor will start operating as usual tomorrow.

“Among them, SK Mensudut Lama which was closed yesterday morning will also be operating tomorrow. This is because the main route to the school which was flooded yesterday is now accessible as the water has receded,” he said in a statement here tonight.

Besides that, SK Punan in Kluang will also be operating tomorrow.

Improved situation in Pahang

The situation in flood-affected Pahang has improved and the number of evacuees continued to drop,reaching 5,824 people as of noon today compared to 6,575 people in the morning.

The InfoBanjir portal of the Social Welfare Department reported that the Rompin, Jerantut and Lipis districts had fully recovered and all evacuees were allowed to return home. 

“The Kuantan district still has the largest number of victims, 4,192 people,” the portal said.

Pekan recorded an increase in the number of evacuees, to 1,392 people compared to 1,278 this morning, and they were housed at nine relief centres, namely SK Merchong Jaya (549 people),  Sekolah Sinar Mutiara Sungai Miang (414).

SK Permatang Keledang (229), Kampung Menchupu community hall (65), Kampung Pulau Manis relief centre (29), SK Temai (81), Kampung Tanjung Pulai community hall (17), SK Acheh (six) and Kampung Tebat community hall (two).

Bera district had 138 people at five relief centres, namely SK Kuala Triang (71), SK Charuk Puting (24), Kampung Mengkarak Mosque (18), Kuala Bera Mosque (13) and Kampung Seberang Guai community hall (12).

In Maran, 97 flood victims were at three centres, namely SM Tengku Ampuan Afzan (53), Kampung Baru Pertanian community hall (31) and SK Pesagi (13).

In Temerloh, only one evacuation centre was still in open, at the Kampung Lompat surau that housed five people.

Perak: Latest flood-struck state

Perak was the latest state to be struck by floods, although more evacuees returned to their homes today, leaving only 61 at a relief centre as of 2pm compared to 211 this morning.

The Perak Disaster Management Committee Secretariat reported that the 61 people from 11 families were being housed at SAR Teluk Kertang in Matang.

It also said that five relief centres were closed today.

In Sabah, the number of flood victims in Membakut remained at 637 from 221 families as of 8am today.

According to a statement by the Civil Defence Force here, a total of 463 victims from 162 families were being housed at SM St Patrick and 127 from 45 families at the Dewan Serbaguna Membakut.

The remaining 47 from 14 families are being housed at the relief centre at the KAFA building in Membakut.

The water level at Sungai Membakut dropped slightly to 5.61 metres from 5.86m last night.

- Bernama