GEORGE TOWN: Two more people perished in the Penang flood disaster, bringing the latest death toll to seven.
The figure rose after two bodies were found in a house in Jalan Mata Kucing, Air Itam and in front of Stadium Bandaraya here.
"The sixth victim has been identified as Tan Ah Peow, 45. He was found by his neighbour at 2pm.
“The seventh victim, also a man, was found by a member of the public at 2.40pm,” said Timur Laut district police chief ACP Anuar Omar.
He said no identification documents were found on the body of the shirtless man who was covered in mud.
The two bodies were sent to the Penang Hospital for post-mortems.
Earlier, four bodies of senior citizens were discovered in their homes; while the body of a Bangladeshi man was found in a house destroyed by a falling tree.
A total of 5,845 flood evacuees have been placed at 62 relief centres in Penang this morning compared with 3,779 victims last night
In BUTTERWORTH, Audrey Dermawan reports that the number of flood victims evacuated in Seberang Perai Tengah (SPT) district stands at 2,119. This is compared to 1,944 people recorded at 10pm yesterday.
The worsening situation is believed to be caused by the high tide which came in after midnight.
District police chief Assistant Commissioner Nik Ros Azhan Nik Abd Hamid said all flood victims have been placed at 27 flood relief centres which were opened since Saturday.
“The victims are from 449 families.
“Also, there is a man who was reportedly injured after a tree fell on him at Jalan Perusahaan Perai. He is currently seeking treatment at the Seberang Jaya Hospital,” he added.
Nik Ros Azhan said roads which remain closed are Jalan Tok Kangar, Bayu Mutiara and Jalan Bukit Minyak, Alma.
Villages and residential areas hit by the floods include Taman Siakap, Taman Senangin, Taman Kempar/Kampung Main Road, Permatang Rawa, LLB Jalan Jelawat, Padang Lalang, Jalan Baru, Jalan Tanah Liat, Kampung Telok and Sungai Rambai.
In ALOR STAR, Embun Majid reports that the number of flood evacuees in Kedah increased to 3,402 people from 938 families this morning.
Forty flood relief centres were open since Friday night with the biggest number of victims in Kulim, followed by Kuala Muda districts.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is schedule to visit several flood hit areas in Kulim this afternoon.
He is slated to visit a landslide scene in Taman Selasih before meeting with evacuees at Permatang Tok Dik relief centre.