Flood victims in Sabah surge as conditions improve in Sarawak and Johor

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 1,783 flood victims remain in temporary relief centres across three states, with the number in Sabah rising on Wednesday morning (Jan 7).

In SABAH, the number of flood victims rose slightly to 1,450 from 512 families in 10 relief centres, up from 1,429 people from 504 families on Tuesday night (Jan 6).

The State Disaster Management Committee said the increase was due to new flood victims in Beaufort.

Beaufort recorded the highest number of victims, with 627 people from 211 families across four relief centres, while Tenom recorded 563 people from 210 families, and Kota Belud remained at 260 people from 91 families.

In SARAWAK, the committee reported that SMK Bekenu in Miri continues to shelter 308 flood victims from 99 families, down from 332 people from 109 families at 4pm on Tuesday (Jan 6).

The victims are from Kampung Kawang, Kampung Jenggalas, Kampung Rambai, Kampung Pintasan, Kampung Masjid, Kampung Kuala Lajung, Kampung Majelin, and Kampung Kelapa in Bekenu.

In JOHOR, flood victims fell to 25 people from eight families, down from 27 victims from nine families, yesterday.

The state chairman, Datuk Asman Shah Abd Rahman, said the Kampung Batu Badak hall in Segamat remains open, sheltering victims from Kampung Seberang Batu Badak and Kampung Batu Lima since Dec 28.

“A continuous rain warning has been issued for Mersing and Kota Tinggi districts.

“Sungai Benut at Parit Salleh gate in Pontian is at warning level, reading 2.15 metres, while Sungai Muar at Sungai Tekam jetty in Segamat is also at warning level at 3.46 metres,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.