KUALA LUMPUR: The floods in the east coast have worsened with authorities in Terengganu evacuating 1,692 people from 424 families, up from 698 people yesterday.
The evacuees are being housed at 13 relief centres in Kemaman, Dungun, Kuala Nerus, Kuala Terengganu and Setiu.
Over in Kelantan, more than 20 personnel of the General Operations Force 8th Battalion (GOF8) have been evacuated after five border control posts in Pasir Mas were flooded.
Its commanding officer, Muhammad Shamsuddin, said the affected border posts were Pos Saripah, Salleh Berek, Mek Gombak, Pulau and Wakaf Zink.
State Disaster Management Committee secretariat head Che Adam A Rahman said the most affected district was Kemaman with the highest number of evacuees at 1,310 from 313 families compared with 279 people from 79 families yesterday evening.
In Kemaman, five new relief centres were opened yesterday evening at Masjid Kampung Dadong, Surau Haji Othman, Felda Seberang Tayor hall, Masjid Kampung Batu 16 Tebak and Batu 14 community hall.
Meanwhile, in Kelantan, as at 10am, the level at Sungai Golok in Rantau Panjang, Pasir Mas, was 9.02 metres, slightly above the danger level of nine metres, following incessant rain since yesterday.
Rantau Panjang Fire and Rescue station chief Imran Ismail said several low-lying areas in Rantau Panjang, including Kampung Kusar, Kampung Lanchang, Kampung Bongor and Kampung Terusan, were flooded to a depth of 0.4 metres.
“So far, no residents from these areas have been evacuated. We advise residents, especially those in low-lying areas and river banks, to be prepared for the possibility of floods striking the district if heavy rains continue,” he said.
In Pasir Mas, the 20 GOF personnel have been moved to the Kuala Jambu and Jeram Perdah Tactical Company.
“The withdrawal of these personnel in the area under Op Benteng is to protect their safety and government assets following a sharp rise in the water level of Sungai Golok since yesterday.
“Nevertheless, patrols on four-wheel drive vehicles are continuing following the withdrawal of these personnel to ensure the continued presence of GOF there,” Muhammad said.
He said patrol and surveillance by GOF personnel would continue even when the areas were flooded.
In Perak, 187 people from 46 families still remained at three relief centres in Kerian, Manjung and Hilir Perak, as at 8am.
A Perak Flood Management Committee secretariat spokesman said a relief centre at Sekolah Kebangsaan Changkat Lobak, Bagan Serai, had 87 evacuees, SK Kayan 30 and the Teluk Intan Municipal Council hall 70.
“The weather in most places, including in Ipoh city, is good this morning and we are waiting for the floodwaters to recede,” he said.
In Malacca, the situation in flood-hit areas in the state improved today, with the number of evacuees at a relief centre dropping to 18 as at 8am from 48 at 4pm yesterday.
The evacuees, from four families, were housed at SK Parit Gantong in Jasin.