WHILE flood evacuees grew in number overnight in Sabah and Pahang, Johor reported a drop in the number of people taking shelter at the southernmost state’s relief centres.

A total of 663 people were reported at the shelters as of 6am today compared to 692 last night.

According to the National Disaster Command Centre, National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma), there were 224 people at four relief centres in Sabah; 175 in four centres in Pahang; and 264 people in seven centres in Johor.

In Sabah, 75 evacuees were housed in three centres in Beluran while 149 people are at one centre in Sandakan.

In Pahang, 40 people were placed at two centres in Pekan while 135 evacuees are at two centres in Rompin.

In Johor, 124 evacuees were in shelters in Kota Tinggi, Segamat, Batu Pahat, Kluang, and Mersing.

Readings at the Irrigation and Drainage Department telemetry station showed that several rivers in Johor, Kelantan, Pahang, Perlis and Terengganu had reached dangerously high levels. The rivers are Sungai Endau in Kluang, Sungai Johor in Kota Tinggi and Sungai Muar in Segamat (all in Johor); Sungai Kelantan in Kota Bharu (Kelantan); Sungai Pahang in Pekan, Bera and Maran and Sungai Rompin (all in Pahang); Sungai Arau (Perlis); and Sungai Terengganu in Kuala Terengganu (Terengganu).

Nadma also stated that 44 roads were closed due to floods, damaged bridges and landslides, including Jalan Petri Jaya, Kota Tinggi in Johor; Jalan Serengkam, Maran and Jalan Temerloh-Jerantut in Temerloh (Pahang); and Jalan Bukit Besi-Dungun in Maran (Terengganu).

On the fire incidents in Sabah and Sarawak, the report said that 47 people from 12 families are still sheltering at a relief centre in Tawau, Sabah, while 38 people are at a centre in Kuching.  – Bernama, January 15, 2024.