Floods worsen in Perak, Penang as evacuee numbers increase

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 — Flood conditions in the states of Perak and Penang have deteriorated, resulting in an increase in evacuees being accommodated in temporary relief centres. In Perak, 407 individuals from 147 families are residing at four relief centres in Larut, Matang and Selama following devastating flooding that occurred in Kampung Changkat Ibol, Kampung Batu 9, Trong and Matang since yesterday.

The State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) Secretariat reported that of the total, 181 victims from 57 families are staying at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Changkat Ibol, while 130 victims from the same number of families are taking shelter at Dewan Masjid Al-Wusta Batu 8. An additional 79 victims from 24 families are housed at SK Matang Gelugor, and 17 evacuees from nine families are at Dewan Perdana Trong.

The SDMC further revealed that 56 victims from 21 families remain at the SK Matang relief centre due to a storm that impacted several villages in the region since Wednesday (Oct 14). The affected areas included Kampung Changkat Baru Matang, Kampung Teluk Kertam, Kampung Melawati and Kampung Hujung Matang, while flooding also occurred in Kampung Changkat Ibol, Kampung Batu 9, Trong and Matang.

In Penang, the count of flood victims seeking refuge at the SK Seri Penanti relief centre surged to 36, up from 27 the previous night. As of 1.14am today, according to the Social Welfare Department’s (JKM) InfoBencana website, the evacuees from 10 families consist of 15 men, 21 women, and nine children. The relief centre was established at 8.30pm yesterday in response to flooding in the Kubang Semang area.