SEGAMAT: The district of Segamat in Johor is currently reeling under severe floods caused by continuous heavy rain since Monday, with several areas submerged, creating small islands.
An aerial survey by Bernama onboard a Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) helicopter found that almost 80 per cent of residential areas in the district were flooded.
Additionally, several routes have been closed to traffic, and houses in Kampung Tenang and Kampung Jawa were completely submerged, with only the roofs visible.
Water from the Juaseh Dam in Labis has overflowed into the residential area, indicating a critical flood situation.
The three badly-affected sub-districts are in Segamat town, Chaah, and Labis, prompting authorities to evacuate residents to relief centres for their safety.
JBPM Fire Safety Division director Datuk Ahmad Izram Osman, who also joined the survey, said that as of last night, water was still covering 80 per cent of the affected residential areas.
He said rescue and evacuation operations for flood victims were currently underway using various assets, including drones.
He added that four drones were used by the JBPM air unit for rescue operations in Johor, which was hit by floods last Monday.
"Drones are used to monitor locations that are difficult to access, so we can plan a strategy for the evacuation of flood victims," he said.
Ahmad Izram said in addition to drones, JBPM also deployed its aircraft to carry out rescue operations.
Meanwhile, lorry driver Mohd Hairulnizam Abu Bakar, 36, said he did not expect the continuous heavy rain since last Monday would cause Sungai Segamat to overflow, leaving roads leading to his house impassable.
"When I came home from work on Wednesday at 4pm, the Segamat old bridge route was closed. I had to sleep on my motorcycle and wait for the water to recede," he said when met by Bernama at the old bridge.
Mohd Hairulnizam described the floods in the Segamat area as the worst compared to those experienced in 2006, 2011, 2013, and 2017.
As of yesterday evening, two main routes have been closed, namely Jalan Jabi-Bukit Tempurung (Segamat) for a distance of 10 kilometers and Jalan Kampung Tungku Tiga-Felda Pemanis.
Segamat is among ten districts in Johor severely affected by the floods. As of 8am today, 3,519 families have been evacuated to 77 relief centres. -- BERNAMA