Heavy rain forces 347 residents to evacuate in Mersing, rivers exceed danger levels

 

Prolonged heavy rain is forecast to continue battering Mersing today, with 347 residents from 90 families still taking shelter at three temporary evacuation centres in Endau as of 9am. - PIC CREDIT: SOCIAL MEDIA

JOHOR BARU: Prolonged heavy rain is forecast to continue battering Mersing today, with 347 residents from 90 families still taking shelter at three temporary evacuation centres in Endau as of 9am.

State Disaster Management Committee chairman Datuk Asman Shah Abd Rahman said the relief centre at SK Pusat Air Tawar housed 148 people from 36 families, while SJK (C) Chia Ching accommodated 130 people from 41 families.

Another 69 people from 13 families were placed at SK Labong.

Asman, who is also the Johor State Secretary, said affected areas include Kampung Baru Air Tawar, Kampung Hubong, Kampung Belujar Juling, Kampung Semaloi, and Kampung Orang Asli Labong.

He added that the Lenit River at Ladang Chaah had exceeded the danger level, recording 7.24 metres against the seven-metre threshold.

"Several river basins have reached the warning level, including Sungai Muar at Kampung Awat and Buloh Kasap, and Sungai Endau at Kampung Labong," he said, adding that seven other basins in Tangkak, Segamat, Muar, and Kluang were at alert level.

Flooding has disrupted traffic, with Jalan Mawai Lama in Kota Tinggi open only to heavy vehicles, Jalan Kim Long restricted to light vehicles, and the Ladang Tenusu route in Mersing reduced to a single lane.

Asman said most areas were experiencing fair weather, except for Mersing, Pontian, Segamat, and Tangkak, according to the latest forecast. - NST