Floods in Johor under control due to public awareness

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JOHOR BARU: The flood situation in the state is stable and is expected to improve with 2,868 people evacuated to 28 flood relief centres statewide.

Johor police chief Deputy Comm Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff said Kluang remained the worst hit area with 2,147 people placed in 13 centres.

Other affected areas are Segamat with 234 evacuees, Batu Pahat (142), Pontian (129), Skudai (28) and Kota Tinggi (17).

Rescued: Flood victim at Kg Sg Linau, Simpang Renggam, Johor being evacuated.

The police have also stationed a police helicopter at the Kluang district police headquarters to assist with relief operations.

DCP Mohd Mokhtar said 11 marine police boats have been dispatched at districts affected by floods with seven more on standby at the marine police headquarters in Tampoi here.

“A total of 8,300 police officers and personnel will be deployed to the areas to aid in the rescue mission during the floods,” he said to pressmen after attending the state police headquarters assembly on Wednesday.

Johor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations Hamid Suari said so far no fatalities had been recorded, due to floods.

“This time around, people are more aware about floods because many of them started coming to flood relief centres early.

“We are currently conducting monitoring missions to see if there are any victims who have not moved out from their houses or are cut off due to the floods,” he said.

State Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) director Chong Chee Han said the flood situation in the state has improved but cautioned those in flood prone areas to be alert.

He said the Meteorological Department had forecast heavy rainfall in the state until Thursday.

“However, it has not rained and the flood situation in several districts in the state has started to improve,” he said.

Meanwhile in Batu Pahat, flood victim Sri Saripin, 81, and his family members were forced to move out after flood waters started rising to knee deep level several days ago.

“Our area was submerged in 1.5m of water,” he said, adding that although he was sad all his belongings were destroyed, he was relieved his family members were safe.

A family from Ladang Simpang Kiri, Maehkah Samaea, 29, and her four children, were transported to a relief centre by a health clinic staff.

“My baby boy and I were supposed to go for a medical check up this morning, but the clinic staff came to our house at 10am instead wanting us to leave the house immediately as the water level in the river was rising fast,” she said, adding that her husband, an auxiliary policeman was out on duty at that time.

Maehkah hoped to go home as soon as possible because it was inconvenient for her as she was still in confinement and breast-feeding her baby.

Village Development and Security committee chairman Kasbon Rahmat said more families would have to be evacuated if the rain continued.

All the victims are placed in five relief centers — Kampung Haji Kamisan in Labis, SK Taman Seri Kota in Yong Peng as well as SK Kota Dalam, SK Sri Pandan and SK Parit Kuari in Ayer Hitam.