THE flood situation in several states has worsened, with the number of people placed in temporary relief centres rising to about 38,120 as of tonight against 36,191 this evening.

The Social Welfare Department InfoBencana portal said there are 34,849 victims in Johor, 2,186 (Pahang), 867 (Negri Sembilan), 204 (Malacca) and 14 (Sarawak). 

IN JOHOR, the number of flood victims rose from 32,870 at 4pm today, although Kulai district has fully recovered.

The State Disaster Management Committee said this is following an increase of victims in several areas, which resulted in the opening of 10 more centres. A total of 225 centres are operating in nine districts.

It said three centres in Kulai, namely SJKT Ladang Oil Palm, SJKC Bukit Batu and Dewan Raya Kampung Murni Jaya were closed today.

It also said Segamat continued to be the worst-hit district with 12,250 victims from 3,545 families, followed by Batu Pahat (6,502 victims from 1,907 families); Kluang (5,294 from 1,539 families); and Kota Tinggi (3,309 from 897 families).

Also affected were Muar (3,127 from 919 families); Tangkak (2,239 from 624 families); Johor Baru (987 from 306 families); Mersing (780 from 231 families); and Pontian (361 from 90 families).

A total of 18 rivers in Segamat, Muar, Tangkak, Batu Pahat, Kluang and Kota Tinggi have also breached the danger level, including Sungai Muar in Lubuk Kepong (Segamat), with a reading of 20.90m and Sungai Batu Pahat in Empangan Bekok (Batu Pahat) 20.15m.

IN MALACCA, the number of victims continued to rise to 204 from 50 families at 8pm today, as opposed to 162 from 40 families at 2pm.

The state secretariat said four centres are operating in the Jasin district, including at SK Chohong, SK Seri Mendapat, SK Parit Penghulu and SK Parit Gantong, which was opened at 6.30pm today.

Eighteen victims from four families are being housed at SK Chohong, 36 people from six families at SK Seri Mendapat and 138 evacuees from 34 families at SK Parit Penghulu. The evacuation process at SK Parit Gantong is ongoing.

In addition, the number of flood victims in Alor Gajah remained at 12 from six families and they are all placed at the Bukit Tambun Community Hall.

IN PAHANG, the number of flood victims has also increased, with 2,186 being housed at 21 centres against 2,183 in 23 centres earlier in the evening.  

Rompin continued to recird the highest number of evacuees at 1,868, followed by Temerloh (173), Pekan (106), Bera (29) and Maran (10). 

Meanwhile, IN NEGRI SEMBILAN, the number of victims dropped to 867 from 235 families against 938 from 272 families in nine centres this afternoon.

IN SARAWAK, the number of victims dropped to 14 from five families as of 7pm against 38 from 17 families this evening. – Bernama, March 3, 2023.