KUALA TERENGGANU: The flood situation in Terengganu has worsened, with hundreds more evacuees taking shelter at relief centres in six districts this morning.
As of 8am, the State Welfare Department’s flood watch portal recorded a total of 4,081 people from 1,249 families at flood centres, compared to 3,392 people from 993 families last night.
Ten more evacuation centres were opened last night, bringing the total to 53 in the six affected districts.
In the worst-affected district of Hulu Terengganu, 2,287 victims from 794 families are now taking shelter at 24 relief centres, compared to the 21 relief centres accommodating 1,936 people from 666 families last night.
In Marang, the number of evacuees decreased to 113 victims from 27 families at three relief centres, compared to 395 people from 99 families at eight relief centres last night.
In Setiu, another relief centre was opened to cater to 296 people from 87 families, compared to the 217 victims from 56 families who were housed at four relief centres last night.
In Besut, 299 people from 72 families were evacuated to five relief centres, compared to 282 victims from 69 families at the same centres last night.
In Dungun, three relief centres were opened to accommodate 113 people from 27 families, compared to 82 people from 19 families at two centres last night.
Meanwhile, thirty-three schools in Terengganu will not be reopened for the new academic year as scheduled today.
The decision was made as the schools have either been flooded, cut off by inaccessible roads, or converted into flood relief centres.
Terengganu Education Department director Shafruddin Ali Hussin said the schools are located in five districts, with the highest number being 22 in Hulu Terengganu.
Five schools are affected in Marang, three in Kuala Terengganu, two in Setiu and one in Dungun.
Safruddin Ali said six schools in Hulu Terengganu have been inundated by floodwaters, namely Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Teris, SK Tapah, SK Tengkawang, SK Kuala Ping, SK Kua and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Bukit Diman.
"Sixteen schools in the district cannot be operated, because the access roads are flooded. They are SK Padang Setebu, SK Sungai Berua, SK Sungai Buloh, SK Kuala Jenderis, SK Matang, SK Lubuk Periuk, SK Bukit Tadok, SK Nibong, SK Betong, SK Pereh, SK Felda Tersat, SK Menerong, SK Cheting, SK Padang Setar, SMK Menering and SMK Kuala Jenderis," he said.
Safruddin Ali added that SK Sentol Patah in Marang is flooded, while four other schools, namely SK Kubu, SK Pengkalan Berangan, SK Bukit Gasing and SMK Merchang are being used as flood relief centres.
In Kuala Terengganu, he said, three schools are flooded, namely SK Kampung Bukit in Chendering, SK Undang and SK Padang Midin.
In Setiu, SMK Langkap has been turned into a flood relief centre, while SK Merbau is flooded.
Safruddin added that SK Seri Paka in Dungun is also flooded.
"Parents of school-going children are advised to keep tabs on the situation at the respective schools. They will only be reopened once floodwaters recede," he added.
Meanwhile, Bernama reports that the level of three rivers in the state has breached the danger point, while four more are above the alert point.
The state Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) portal states that the level of Sungai Telemong at Kuala Ping, near Hulu Terengganu, is at 20.59 metres (above the danger point of 20 metres); Sungai Nerus at Kampung Langkap, 21.68 metres (21.50 metres) and Sungai Marang at the Pengkalan Berangan Bridge, 3.89 metres (3 metres).
It also reports that the level of Sungai Besut at Kampung La is 20.38 metres (above the alert point of 19.8 metres); Sungai Besut at the Keruak Bridge, 33.24 metres (33 metres); Sungai Chalok at Setiu, 7.30 metres (7 metres) and Sungai Dungun at Kuala Jengah, 19.74 metres (19.50 metres).