ALMOST 12,000 people have sought shelter in evacuation centres in Johor and Sabah following heavy flooding, state authorities reported today.

IN SABAH, 6,313 people were housed in 26 shelters as of 8am today.

The Sabah State Disaster Management Committee Secretariat said the hardest-hit districts were Paitan, Pitas, Kota Marudu, Kudat, and Lahad Datu.

It said the number of evacuees was growing.

IN SARAWAK, 56 people were housed in two shelters in the Lundu district after their homes were flooded yesterday.

A Sarawak Disaster Management Committee Secretariat spokesman said the two shelters were opened last night in SK Sebat and the Kampung Sebat Dayak community hall.

IN JOHOR, 5,455 people had been evacuated as of 8am today, up from 5,000 victims at 10pm last night.

State Disaster Management Committee chairman Azmi Rohani said seven of the state’s 10 districts were inundated following non-stop heavy rainfall over the last four days.

He said Segamat remained the worst-hit district with 1,801 people displaced.

“Kluang recorded the second most flood evacuees with 1,256, followed by Mersing with 1,153, and Kota Tinggi with 734.

“Batu Pahat logged 272 evacuees, Muar 217, and Pontian 18,” he said.

Heavy rain is expected to continue this morning in Johor Baru, Kluang, Mersing, Kota Tinggi, Batu Pahat, Pontian, Segamat, Tangkak and Kulai.

Five main routes are closed to ensure safety, including Jalan Sungai Tiram-Ulu Tebrau in Kulai, where a slope has collapsed. Three routes in Mersing that are blocked off because of flood are Jalan Jemaluang-Batu Pahat, Jalan Nitar Timur-Pengkalan Batu, and Jalan Tanah Abang.

In Segamat, Jalan Jabi-Bukit Tempurung is also closed. – January 26, 2023.