Floods worsen in Perak, Penang as evacuee numbers increase

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 — The flood situation in Perak and Penang worsened this morning, with more evacuees placed in the states’ temporary relief centres.

In PERAK, 407 victims from 147 families were housed at four relief centres in Larut, Matang and Selama as of 8am.

The State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) Secretariat said four centres were operating in the district following floods that his several areas, namely Kampung Changkat Ibol, Kampung Batu 9, Trong and Matang, since yesterday.

“Of the total, 181 victims from 57 families are placed at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Changkat Ibol, while 130 victims from 57 families are taking shelter at Dewan Masjid Al-Wusta Batu 8.

“Another 79 victims from 24 families are housed at SK Matang Gelugor, while 17 evacuees from nine families are at Dewan Perdana Trong,” it said in a statement.

It also said that 56 victims from 21 families are still at the SK Matang relief centre following a storm that affected several villages in the area since Wednesday (Oct 14).

Areas affected by the storm included Kampung Changkat Baru Matang, Kampung Teluk Kertam, Kampung Melawati and Kampung Hujung Matang, while flooding affected Kampung Changkat Ibol, Kampung Batu 9, Trong and Matang.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) forecast thunderstorms in all districts this afternoon, followed by rain in the evening.

In PENANG, the number of flood victims taking shelter at the SK Seri Penanti relief centre rose to 36, compared with 27 last night.

According to the Social Welfare Department’s (JKM) InfoBencana website, as of 1.14am today, the evacuees from 10 families comprised 15 men and 21 women, including nine children.

The relief centre was opened at 8.30pm yesterday following floods in the Kubang Semang area. — Bernama