FLOODS: SARAWAK SEES IMPROVEMENT; SABAH REMAINS UNCHANGED

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 (Bernama) -- The flood situation in Sarawak is showing improvement as the number of victims taking shelter at temporary evacuation centres (PPS) continues to decrease, while the situation in Sabah remains unchanged as of tonight.

In Sarawak, only Miri is still affected by floods, with 105 victims seeking shelter at the PPS at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bekenu, Subis. compared to 135 victims this morning.

In Sabah, the total number of flood victims in the Beaufort and Tenom districts remains unchanged, with 1,224 people as of this morning.

According to the Sabah State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN) Secretariat, the Beaufort district recorded 661 people, whereas Tenom recorded 563 victims.

All evacuees are from 14 villages, namely nine villages in Beaufort and five in Tenom.

To date, eight PPS and one permanent evacuation centre (PPK) are operating in both districts.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) has issued a thunderstorm warning for several areas in Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsula Malaysia tonight.

Heavy rain and thunderstorms are expected to hit several districts in Sarawak, namely Kuching, Samarahan (Samarahan and Asajaya), Miri (Beluru, Telang Usan, Miri and Marudi) and Limbang.

Similar weather is also predicted to occur in Sabah, affecting the Interior areas (Sipitang, Kuala Penyu, Beaufort and Nabawan), the West Coast (Ranau and Kota Belud), Tawau (Tawau), Sandakan (Telupid and Beluran), Kudat, and the Federal Territory of Labuan.

Other areas include Larut, Matang and Selama, Manjung, Kinta, Perak Tengah, Kampar, Bagan Datuk, Hilir Perak and Batang Padang in Perak as well as Sabak Bernam in Selangor.

-- BERNAMA