AS majority of Malaysians gear up to usher in a new beginning, folks in flood prone areas have no better alternative than to stay alert with evacuation being the last resort in the event of rising water level.
On this note, the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) has forecast the likelihood of flooding in stages at 10 districts in Pahang from 1am today (Dec 31) following the danger (red) level continuous rain warning issued by the Malaysian Meteorological Department.
DID through a post on Twitter informed that the 10 districts in Pahang were Kuantan, Rompin, Pekan, Bera, Maran, Jerantut, Temerloh, Lipis, Raub and Bentong.
In Kuantan, the expected areas are Bandar Sungai Lembing, Kampung (Kg) Melayu, Kg Sungai Rimau, Kg Panching, Kg Pasir Kemudi, Kg Sungai Pinang, Bandar Kuantan, Sungai Isap and other surrounding low-lying areas.
A similar forecast has also been issued by DID for five districts in Johor involving Mersing, Batu Pahat, Kluang, Kota Tinggi and Johor Bahru which are expected to experience floods from 2pm tomorrow (Jan 1) following continuous rain warning.
Meanwhile, Bernama reported that Kelantan and Terengganu continue to record an increase in evacuees while the number continues to drop in Pahang tonight.
In Kelantan, the number of evacuees increased to 1,186 people from 350 families as of 9pm yesterday (Dec 30) from 856 people from 245 families earlier in the evening.
According to the Social Welfare Department’s (JKM) Disaster Info application, 14 relief centres are operating in two districts with nine in Jeli and five in Kuala Krai.
In a related development, DID’s official portal reported that Sungai Golok in Kampung Jenob, Tanah Merah is at danger level with a reading of 23.74 metres (m).
In addition, the Public Works Department’s (JKR) disaster management portal informed the route along Jalan Jeli-Dabong at Kampung Reka, Jeli has been closed to all vehicles after it was inundated.
In Terengganu, the number of evacuees increased to 137 people from 42 families yesterday night compared to 69 people from 22 families earlier in the evening.
Following this, the second relief centre was opened in Dungun at the Kampung Shukur Multipurpose Hall.
Although Dungun was the only district to be hit by the floods yesterday, monitoring was also focused on Besut, Hulu Terengganu and Kemaman districts, according to Terengganu State Disaster Management Secretariat chief Lieutenant Colonel (PA) Rosman Abdullah.
“The number of evacuees is expected to rise tonight as most major rivers are still showing an upward trend,” he said.
The DID official portal informed that three rivers in the state have passed the danger level yesterday night with Sungai Besut at Jambatan Keruak (Besut) recorded 35.03m, Sungai
Dungun in Kampung Pasir Raja (Dungun) (38.63m) and Sungai Telemong in Kuala Ping (Hulu Terengganu) (19.89m).
However, in Pahang, the JKM Disaster Info application reported that the number of evacuees has dropped to 3,390 people who are taking shelter at 33 relief centres in Bentong, Temerloh, Kuantan, Maran and Pekan districts. – Dec 31, 2021
