KUANTAN: The flood situation in Pahang has worsened due to non-stop downpours, and the number of residents forced to flee their homes has skyrocketed to 7,306 as of 9am today.
Lipis is the latest district to be hit by floods, with nine people from two families evacuated to the Tanjung Bungor multipurpose hall and the Lentang hall last night.
The worst-hit districts are Kuantan, Rompin, Pekan, Maran, Jerantut and Lipis, where the number of flood evacuees rose precipitously from 5,965 last night.
According to the Welfare Department’s flood portal, Kuantan remains the most severely-affected district with 5,663 people from 1,633 families seeking shelter at 24 relief centres.
Meanwhile, 665 victims from 178 families are seeking shelter in Rompin; 715 victims from 182 families in Pekan, 32 people from six families in Jerantut, and 222 people from 50 families in Maran.
A state Civil Defence Force (APM) spokesman said two villages in Lipis were inundated by floods at about 11pm on Wednesday, forcing the villagers’ relocation.
He said continuous heavy rain in several areas, and rising river levels could force more people to be relocated to relief centres today.
2.30pm UPDATE:
The worsening flood situation has forced 42 schools across the state to be closed today, 27 more than yesterday.
Eleven schools were closed on Tuesday, the first day of the new school term, and the number rose to 15 yesterday.
Pahang director of Education Dr Tajuddin Mohd Yunus said 15 schools were closed in Kuantan and Jerantut respectively, while four were shut in Temerloh.
He said three schools were closed in Lipis, two each in Pekan and Maran, and one in Bera.
Meanwhile, the Social Welfare Department’s ‘infobanjir’ app reported that as of 1pm, 8,296 flood evacuees from 2,289 families are seeking shelter in six districts in Pahang, compared to 7,306 people earlier today.