KUANTAN: Pahang has opened its first relief centre after heavy rains over the past 24 hours triggered flash floods at three low-lying settlements.
A total 33 victims from 11 families were taken to the temporary relief centre after their homes in Kampung Kempadang (Jalan Sungai Soi), Kampung Rumbia and Kampung Bugis near here were inundated at 5am.
Twenty-four people from nine families in Kampung Kempadang were seeking shelter at SK Kempadang while one family each from Kampung Rumbia (three people) and Kampung Bugis(six people) were moved to SK Beserah.
Pahang Fire and Rescue Department deputy director (operations) Ismail Abdul Ghani said the department had deployed their trucks to evacuate the victims to the relief centres early today.
"The flash floods were caused by continuous rain since yesterday. None of the settlements were located near any rivers," he said.
Meanwhile, several parts of Sungai Lembing town which were submerged in floodwaters earlier today have begun to show improvements.
Sungai Lembing Chinese community leader Tang Siew Fong said the villagers today woke up to flash floods about 5am.
"Sungai Kuantan near Bukit Kenau burst its banks resulting in the town centre to be inundated. No one was evacuated and the water started to recede after 8am.
"We were anticipating the floods especially after it rained non-stop since yesterday. I hope the situation will return to normal soon," he said when contacted.
Sungai Lembing - once a prosperous tin mining town - is prone to floods and often described as an indicator of the flood situation in the state capital during the monsoon season.