KUALA LUMPUR: The number of flood evacuees taking shelter in relief centres in Sabah had increased as of 4pm on Tuesday (Sept 16), while Perak and Selangor recorded a decrease, and Negri Sembilan has fully recovered.

In SABAH, the state Disaster Management Committee (JPBN) reported that the number of evacuees has risen to 2,813 individuals from 752 families, an increase from the 2,468 people from 656 families recorded in the morning.

The evacuees are being housed at 21 temporary relief centres (PPS) and one permanent relief centre (PPK) spanning 95 villages across five affected districts.

"Of the five affected districts, Membakut, Papar and Putatan recorded an increase. However, in Beaufort, the number of victims remained unchanged, while Penampang showed a decreasing trend," read the statement.

It added that Penampang is the worst-affected with 940 people from 232 families, followed by Membakut (815 people from 232 families), Putatan (538 people from 135 families), Beaufort (273 people from 83 families) and Papar (247 people from 70 families).

In PERAK, the JPBN secretariat announced that the number of evacuees, all from Muallim, has been reduced to just 49 individuals from 12 families, a significant decrease from the 397 people from 91 families reported in the morning.  

"Only residents from Kuala Slim, who were affected by the floods, remain housed at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Kuala Slim," it said.

All evacuees previously sheltered at the other four PPS, namely Dewan Orang Ramai Kampung Sungai Sekiah Batu 7, Dewan Orang Ramai Kampung Pasir, Kampung Orang Asli Sungai Lembing Behrang Stesen and Dewan Serbaguna Kampung Pauh, have been permitted to return home as the floodwaters have fully receded.

Meanwhile, the Perak Irrigation and Drainage Department reported that the water level at the Slim River is at an alert stage, measuring 25.19 metres (m) against a normal level of 23.5m.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department also forecast that several districts in Perak, including Kinta, Hulu Perak, Kuala Kangsar, Batang Padang, Kampar, and Muallim, are expected to experience thunderstorms and rain in the afternoon and evening.

In SELANGOR, the number of evacuees in the state has decreased this afternoon to just 10 individuals from two families, down from 146 people from 44 families in the morning.

According to the Social Welfare Department's Disaster Info Portal, the SK Sungai Serai PPS in Hulu Langat remains operational, housing all remaining evacuees.

In NEGRI SEMBILAN, the state Civil Defence Force director, Lt Col (PA) Mohd Nazri Mes Kam, announced that the PPS at SK Jimah Lama in Port Dickson has been closed.

The centre, which housed 74 evacuees from 20 families in the morning, was closed at 2pm, and everyone was allowed to return home after the flood waters receded completely.- Bernama