A TOTAL of 166 people from 134 families have been evacuated to four relief centres in two districts after their houses were flooded following several hours of heavy rain yesterday evening.

The districts were Baling (159 people from 131 families) and Bandar Baharu (seven evacuees from three families).

Baling Malaysian Civil Defence Force officer Mohd Faizol Ab Aziz said three relief centres were opened in the district – SK Seri Bayu, SK Siong and SK Parit Panjang.

“The affected areas are Kampung Siput, Batu 8, Kampung Batu 60, Kampung Kuala Kedua and Kampung Memali in Mukim Siong.

“Kampung Rambung Pulau, Kampung Charuk Gorok, Kampung Charuk Salang and a house in Kampung Haji Abas are also affected,” he said in a statement today.

Faizol said the downpour also caused a nearby river to overflow, causing several homes to be inundated.

He said 123 students, 49 teachers and seven facilitators from SMK Bonggor and SK Seri Perdana, who were participating in an activity at a campsite yesterday, had also been relocated to a safer location to prevent any untoward incident.

Meanwhile, Bandar Baharu Disaster Management Committee secretary Abdul Rahim Khairuddin said seven people from three families in Kampung Cherok Meranti had been moved to a centre at the Sungai Batu mosque after their houses were hit by flash floods yesterday.

“However, the water has receded and the relief centre is expected to close at 10am today after all the victims are allowed to return to their homes,” he said. – Bernama, October 27, 2023.