THE number of evacuees in the state continues to rise, with 308 victims seeking shelter at relief centres up to 4pm yesterday compared to 294 earlier.
A Perak Disaster Management Committee secretariat spokesman said the 308 victims from Hilir Perak and Kerian districts were seeking shelter at two relief centres.
‘SK Changkat Jong in Teluk Intan, which opened as a relief centre since Friday, has 233 victims from 62 families in Hilir Perak district up to 4pm.
‘Another 75 victims from 17 families in Kerian district are at SK Changkat Lobak,’he said yesterday.
A Kerian District Disaster Management Secretariat spokesman said 75 people from Kampung Matang Tengah were forced to evacuate at 6pm when their houses were inundated.
In Johor Baru,the number of flood victims continued to rise here and in Pontian district.
Local Government, Urban Wellbeing and Environment Committee chairman Tan Chen Choon said 596 people from 132 families had been relocated up to 4pm yesterday compared with 510 at 8am.
In Pontian, 363 victims were from 84 families. They were from Kampung Parit Basilam, Kampung Maju Jaya, Kampung Melayu Batu 30 Bukit Panjang, Kampung Ulu Pulai and Kampung Seri Bunian.
They were relocated to five relief centres;PPS Madrasah Parit Basilam, SK Parit Haji Adnan, SK Seri Bukit Panjang, Masjid Kampung Ulu Pulai and SK Seri Bunian.
A total of 233 people from 48 families from Kampung Pulai in Gelang Patah had been relocated to SK Kampung Pulai.
He said other affected areas were Kampung Sari Baru and Kampung Seri Gelam in Muar; and Kampung Jasa Wangi in Batu Pahat. However, no residents had been evacuated to relief centres.
In Kuantan, floods were expected to hit the east coast state in December, prompting the Pahang Fire and Rescue Department to prepare for the worst.
Its chief, Nor Hisham Mohammed, said they were expecting 20 per cent more rain than last year.
Up to last month, there was 44 per cent of rainfall compared with the annual average of 2,000mm to 2,500mm.
Nor Hisham said based on information from the Malaysian Meteorological Department, Pahang would experience heavy rain in December, mainly in Rompin, Kuantan and Pekan, as well as the coastal areas.
He added that since Pekan and Kuantan were located at the estuary of Sungai Pahang and Sungai Kuantan, respectively, the department would be on alert in these two areas.
‘Based on the weather forecast, the monsoon will start a bit late, probably in the third week of November,’he told the New Straits Times.
He urged the public to stop outdoor activities, such as picnics at waterfalls and rivers, hiking and mountain climbing, when the monsoon arrives.
‘Beach resorts will operate as usual, but we will not allow any water activities.
‘The red flag will be put up as a sign to avoid the water. Resorts in Pulau Tioman will be closed during that time as ferries cannot operate.’
On logistics, Nor Hisham He said boats would be deployed when required, while 80 per cent of the department’s assets, such as lorries, four-wheel-drive vehicles and pick-up trucks, were ready to be deployed.
He added that the department had 869 staff, 150 auxiliary members and about 1,000 volunteers to help evacuate flood victims. The volunteers were based at their own villages and towns.
‘They are our first responders. They will assess the situation for danger and call a fire station to assist, if needed.’