Number of people evacuated from flooded homes rises to 21,000

 

The residents of this house at Batu 7, Kampung Pantai, Seremban, had an unusual problem. They not only had to deal with muddy floodwaters but also wood and other debris that filled their compound. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: As of noon today, things were not looking good at all for the affected people in the seven flood-hit states, with Perak being the latest to succumb to the natural disaster.

Reports trickling in say the floods are worsening in Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka.

Altogether, more than 21,000 people had been evacuated from their flooded homes to relief centres by noon.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob last night ordered the rescue of stranded people and to supply them with food.

He went down to the ground today, visiting two relief centres — Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Johan Setia and SK Telok Gong, in Klang, Selangor.

A total of 6,242 people are being housed at 80 relief centres in the districts of Klang, Kuala Langat, Petaling, Sepang, Kuala Selangor and Hulu Langat in Selangor.

Roads in KL affected

Meanwhile, five routes in Kuala Lumpur city centre are still closed and traffic diverted as of 1pm today due to the floods.

Many of the roads in Kuala Lumpur were hit by floods. (Bernama pic)

KL traffic investigation and enforcement department (JSPT) chief Sarifudin Mohd Salleh said the routes involved were Jalan Tuanku Sultan Abdul Halim, Jalan Rahmat, Jalan Sentul Manis, Jalan Pahang Barat and the Smart Tunnel.

According to him, cleaning work was being actively carried out and commuters are advised to use Jalan Tun Razak to head to the city centre.

“Road users are advised to avoid the affected routes and to comply with the instructions of personnel on duty to ensure traffic is always smooth and under control.

“For enquiries and information, the public can contact the Jalan Tun HS Lee traffic police station at 03-2071 9999 or the Kuala Lumpur JSPT Hotline at 03-20260267/69 or any nearest police station,” he said in a statement today.

Continuous rain over the past two days caused most of the main roads around the city centre to be inundated since late last night.

Among the places that were flooded due to Sungai Gombak overflowing were Dataran Merdeka and most parts of the Sultan Abdul Samad building and Jalan Raja here. - FMT