APM RESCUE 29 TAHFIZ STUDENTS AS SCHOOL HIT BY FLOOD WATERS IN PEKAN

​​ KUANTAN, Dec 18 (Bernama) -- Students of Maahad Tahfiz Ummul Qura Lilbanat in Kampung Alor Ara, Pekan, had to be evacuated after the area was hit by floods following several days of continuous rain in Pahang.

Pekan District Civil Defence Force (APM) Officer, Captain (PA) Ahmad Azmi Nafiah, stated that 29 students residing at the tahfiz school were transported to safety by boat at noon today.

“All students and the management of the tahfiz school have returned to their respective homes. The students' parents picked them up once they were brought out to a safe location,” he said in a statement today.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Azmi noted that the access route to the school was submerged under 1.3 meters of water, leaving the students stranded as the road was cut off. He added that five personnel of other ranks were deployed for the operation.

In a separate statement, Kuantan District Police Chief ACP Ashari Abu Samah informed that seven roads around the Kuantan district have been closed to all vehicles following floods in several low-lying areas caused by heavy rain since early morning.

He stated that the affected routes include Jalan Air Hitam, with water levels reaching 0.6 meters over a 200-meter stretch; Jalan Kampung Pasir Kemudi, with water levels at 1.2 meters over 1.8 kilometers (km); and Jalan Kampung Bukit Bangkong in the Orang Asli village, submerged under 0.9 meters of water over 1.5 km.

“Also closed are Jalan Kuantan–Pekan, which is impassable to all vehicles; the road in front of UNIPSAS, which is flooded in both directions; and Jalan MCKIP–Kuantan Bypass, with water levels at 1.2 meters over a distance of approximately 100 meters.

"Jalan Kuantan–Kemaman near Bukit Penggorak is also flooded at a depth of 0.5 meters over a stretch of about 400 meters,” he said.

Ashari added that the road closures were implemented to prevent the risk of accidents and safety threats to users. He advised the public to avoid affected routes, especially in low-lying areas and locations near rivers.

--BERNAMA.