FLOODS OVER IN PENANG, PERLIS, WITH ALL RELIEF CENTRES CLOSED

TASEK GELUGOR, Sept 21 (Bernama) -- The flooding in Penang is over, with the last five temporary evacuation centres (PPS) in the state sheltering 259 people closed this morning.

The skies have been clear without rain since yesterday, as floodwaters that drove many from homes since Tuesday have receded completely today. 

According to the State Disaster Management Committee, all evacuees from 72 families placed at five PPS in the districts of Seberang Perai Utara (SPU), Seberang Perai Tengah (SPT) and Seberang Perai Selatan (SPS) were allowed to return to their homes.

"Going by inspection and monitoring by the authorities, the flood waters have receded and the three districts have fully recovered and the evacuees have been allowed to return to their homes this morning.

"Following that, three SPU PPS at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Padang Menora, SK Lahar Yooi, and Labuh Banting centre and one PPS each at SPT, which is at Sekolah Rendah Islam Maahad At Tarbiah Guar Jering and SPS at Dewan MPKK Sanglang, were closed this morning," said the report.

Since Tuesday, more than 700 flood victims in three districts in Penang have been transferred to 11 PPS after their houses were lashed by heavy rain and strong winds, with dozens of houses damaged while hundreds of trees tumbled in the squall.

In PERLIS, the floods have also receded as the three temporary evacuation centres (PPS) in the Kangar and Arau areas that accommodated 90 flood victims as of 8 am today were completely closed at noon today.

Perlis director of the Civil Defence Force (CDF) Lt Col (PA) Mohd Izaimi Md Daud said all the evacuees were allowed to return home as the floodwaters in their housing areas had receded completely.

"The PPS at SK Sena in Kangar and SK Dato Ahmad Musa-SK Kubang Gajah for the Arau area were completely closed at noon today," he said in a statement.

He said among the villages hit in the wave of flooding were Kampung Sungai Padang and Kampung Kubang Gajah in Arau and Kampung Tok Kandang, Kampung Bakau, Kampung Sena and Kampung Seberang Tambang in Kangar.

 -- BERNAMA