THREE roads in the Kota Tinggi district have been closed to light vehicles due to a rise in water levels following continuous heavy rain since early morning. 

Kota Tinggi district officer Hazlina Jalil said the three roads are Jalan Ladang Siang, Jalan Lok Heng-Sungai Mas, and Jalan Perani. 

“However, no main road has been closed so far. The flood is due to the continuous rain since last night and the high tide, so we are constantly monitoring and preparing,” she told a press conference after visiting flood victims at a temporary relief centre (PPS) in Taman Desaru Utama today. 

One of the residents, Md Johari Dol, 67, said the water level rose very quickly. 

“We have been affected by floods three times now, but this time is the worst because the water rose fast until it entered the house, at knee and thigh level while on the street outside it is at waist level. 

“Maybe one of the causes of the flood is because there is a new housing estate nearby, thus causing the water to flow and gather here,” he said. 

Housewife Zaleha Abdul Rahman, 36, who has lived in the area for the past nine years, said that most residents were prepared for the floods. 

“We are always prepared because the Malaysian Meteorological Department has also issued heavy rain warnings and we follow the instructions of the authorities to evacuate to PPS if required,” she said. 

Meanwhile, the state’s disaster management committee said as of 8pm, the number of flood victims in Johor rose to 1,703 from 1,093 recorded at 4pm, adding that three more PPS were opened in the districts of Kota Tinggi, Kluang, and Segamat, bringing the total to 16. 

“Segamat is the most affected district with 1,229 victims from 325 families housed at eight PPS. 

“For the Kluang district, a total of 300 people from 84 families were evacuated to six PPS while 174 residents from 40 families in the Kota Tinggi district were evacuated to two PPS,” it said in a statement. 

It said in addition to the three roads in Kota Tinggi, Jalan Senai-Gemas and Jalan Jabi-Bukit Tempurung in Segamat were closed to all vehicles. 

Meanwhile, data from the Department of Irrigation and Drainage showed that four rivers in Johor had passed the danger level with an upward trend, namely Sungai Muar (river mouth of Sungai Gemas) at 19.06m, Sungai Lenik (Chaah Plantation) at 6.66m, Sungai Segamat (Segamat Kecil) at 38.06m, and Sungai Kahang (Kampung Contoh) at 14.7m. – Bernama, January 24, 2023.