– The Malaysian Insider/Bernama
27 December 2014

The floods took a turn for the worse in Kelantan by this afternoon, sending 81,925 people in all to relief centres, while the situation in Kedah continues to improve.

In Kelantan, 26,000 evacuees were recorded in Tumpat, making it the worst affected of the districts, followed by Kota Baru, with 24,034 evacuees.

Pasir Mas district also had a large number of evacuees, at 12,332. Kuala Krai had 5,200 evacuees; Gua Musang, 5,150; Machang, 4,039; Tanah Merah, 3,548; Jeli, 1,430 and Pasir Puteh, 192.

Kelantan Welfare Department director Nik Omar Nik Abdul Rahman said all the evacuees, from 20,177 families, were being housed at 254 relief centres throughout the state.

A check by Bernama revealed that several stretches on the main road between Kota Baru and Pengkalan Chepa were flooded and only four-wheel-drive vehicles could pass through some of these.

The stretches affected include Jalan Sabak, Jalan Pengkalan Chepa and Jalan Tok Guru.

In Kedah, the situation continues to improve and the remaining 13 flood evacuees have been allowed to return to their homes. The only relief centre in the Bandar Baharu district was closed.

In Terengganu, it was a different story altogether. Up to 35,246 people from 6,750 families still remained at relief centres in the state.

Kemaman district still had the highest number of evacuees, at 25,055, followed by Dungun (8,725); Kuala Terengganu (1,247) and Hulu Terengganu (219).

All the evacuees are being housed at 99 relief centres, 50 of them in Kemaman; 35 in Dungun; nine in Kuala Terengganu and five in Hulu Terengganu.

In Pahang, the number of evacuees has risen to 35,564, with Raub being the latest district to be hit and having to accommodate 666 people in 17 relief centres.

According to the Pahang Police flood operations room, the eight other affected districts are Kuantan (with 15,072 evacuees); Jerantut (5,802); Temerloh (4,522); Maran (3,335); Pekan (3,128); Lipis (2,470); Bera (528) and Rompin (41).

In Perak, the number of evacuees has risen to 6,730 in the flood-hit districts of Kuala Kangsar, Perak Tengah, Hulu Perak and Kerian.

Perak Tengah is the district with the highest number of evacuees, at 3,311, followed by Kuala Kangsar (2,711); Hulu Perak (657) and Kerian (51), according to a spokesman of the Perak National Security Council (NSC).

In Johor, the State Disaster Operations Control Centre reported that the number of evacuees had dropped to 1,096, and they were housed at 14 relief centres.

In Perlis, 195 people still remain at three relief centres, namely the Seri Malau and Beseri Dalam community halls and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Abi, Kangar.

In Negri Sembilan, receding floodwaters have enabled several evacuees to return to their homes, leaving only 80 at relief centres compared to 331 in the morning.

In Selangor, it was reported that 85 people had to be moved to two relief centres in Klang after several areas in the district were flooded.

The affected areas are Jalan Datuk Abdul Hamid, Taman Sentosa; Kampung Budiman; Persiaran Hamzah Alang; Batu 5; Jalan Meru and Jalan Paip in Meru.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (operations) Mohd Sani Harul said more rain could worsen the floods in these places. – Bernama, December 27, 2014.