FLOODS: EVACUEES IN SABAH AND SARAWAK RISE SLIGHTLY, UNCHANGED IN JOHOR

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 6 (Bernama) -- The number of flood evacuees housed at temporary relief centres in Sabah and Sarawak continued to rise this afternoon, while the situation in Johor remained unchanged, and as of 4 pm, a total of 1,777 evacuees were recorded across the three states.

In SABAH, the number of evacuees increased to 1,418 people from 498 families as of 4 pm, up from 1,399 people involving 488 families reported earlier this morning.

The Sabah Disaster Management Committee (JPBN) Secretariat said the increase was attributed to a rise in the number of flood victims in Tenom and Beaufort.

Beaufort recorded the highest number of evacuees, with 595 people from 198 families, a slight increase from 587 people reported this morning. Two additional temporary relief centres were opened in the district, namely Masjid Darul Ikhlas, Kampung Batandok Lubak, and Dewan Sri Dayang Shahbandar.

In Tenom, the number of evacuees rose to 563 people, up from 535 earlier, following the opening of a new relief centre at Sekolah Kebangsaan Saga. This brings the total number of operating relief centres in the district to five.

Meanwhile, the flood situation in Kota Belud showed signs of improvement, with the number of evacuees declining to 260 people from 277 earlier this morning, following the closure of the Dewan Kampung Lentigi relief centre at 2.30 pm.

In SARAWAK, the state JPBN reported that 332 people from 109 families were still taking shelter at the relief centre at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bekenu, Miri, as of 4 pm.

All the evacuees are residents of Kampung Kawang, Kampung Jenggalas, Kampung Rambai, Kampung Pintasan, Kampung Masjid, Kampung Kuala Lajung, Kampung Majelin and Kampung Kelapa in Bekenu.

Meanwhile, in JOHOR, state JPBN chairman Datuk Asman Shah Abd Rahman said the number of evacuees remained unchanged at 27 people from nine families, who are being housed at the Kampung Batu Badak community hall in Segamat. The centre has been accommodating evacuees from Kampung Seberang Batu Badak and Kampung Batu Lima since Dec 28.

-- BERNAMA