THE number of flood evacuees in Batu Pahat has dropped to 13,872 as of 8pm tonight, compared to 15,907 people recorded at 4pm this afternoon, following the closure of nine temporary relief centres as flood waters continue to recede.

The State Disaster Management Committee said with the closure of the PPS, 59 centres housing 3,985 families are still operating to date.

According to the committee, the three relief centres that housed the highest number of victims were Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (Chinese) Pt Yaani, Parit Raja, which housed 678 people, Dewan Parit Senah, Sri Medan which housed 671 victims and Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Aman with 552 students.

Three rivers in Batu Pahat are still at warning levels, namely the Bekok Dam in Sungai Bekok which is currently at 19.08 metres (m), Sembrong Dam in Sungai Sembrong with a reading of 11.23m and Sungai Senggarang in Senggarang at 3.32m.

Weather conditions are expected to be clear in six districts tonight, except for Johor Bahru, Muar and Segamat which will be cloudy, while rain is predicted in Batu Pahat. – Bernama, March 19, 2023.