KOTA BARU: The flood situation in the east coast continued to show improvement yesterday, with the number of flood victims vastly reduced.
In Kelantan, there were 7,666 flood victims up to 7pm last night. They were from 3,024 families and were housed in 22 flood relief centres in two districts.
Data from the Welfare Department showed that only two districts, Pasir Mas and Tumpat, were still affected by floods.
Pasir Mas had 4,753 flood victims from 2,000 families in 15 relief centres.
Tumpat had 2,913 flood victims from 1,024 families in seven relief centres.
In Terengganu, the number of flood victims also dropped, with 861 victims recorded yesterday evening compared with 1,062 in the morning.
The victims were housed in six relief centres in Kuala Terengganu and Kuala Nerus districts.
The Setiu relief centre was closed yesterday evening.
Official figures showed that up to 6pm yesterday, the number of flood victims in Kuala Nerus dropped to 609 people from 155 families in five relief centres, compared with 629 people from 163 families in the morning.
Kuala Terengganu had 252 flood victims from 55 families, a slight reduction from the 394 people from 100 families in the morning.
The authorities are keeping a close watch on the situation.
The National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) said a second wave of floods could occur on Dec 25 and 26 on a scale similar or larger than the first.
Nadma operations coordination department deputy director Rusli Ibrahim said the agency was concerned that the effects of the second wave of floods could be exacerbated by high tide in Kelantan.
Police advised the public, especially those in flooded areas, to be careful when fishing, Bernama reported.
Kelantan police chief Datuk Hasanuddin Hassan said although most residents were aware of their surroundings, accidents could still occur.
He said outsiders should not fish in those areas as they would not be aware of the dangers.
“Two drowning cases related to fishing have been recorded.
“Another case yesterday (Wed-nesday) was due to an electric shock. So three deaths have been recorded,” he said at the Kelantan police headquarters here yesterday.
He advised the public not to turn the flood season into a “water festival”.
He said many places in the state seemed to have become “water theme parks”, with many parents taking their children to play.
“Although the water level in the place where the ‘festival’ is held is not that deep, there are areas with rapid currents. Things can go wrong in the blink of an eye.”