JOHOR BARU: The flood situation in Johor worsened as the number of flood victims rose to 6,564 people from 1,819 families who were placed in 51 temporary evacuation centres (PPS), in six affected districts, as of 7am this morning.
This is an increase from the 4,834 affected victims from 1,413 families placed in 50 PPS, in six affected districts, at midnight.
State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN) chairman Tan Sri Dr Azmi Rohani said Kota Tinggi remained the most flood-affected district with 2,964 victims from 783 families placed in 24 PPS, as of this morning.
Azmi, who is also the Johor State Secretary, said this was followed by Johor Baru with 1,844 victims from 504 families sheltering in 10 PPS, while in Kluang the number of victims also increased to 1,633 victims from 500 families in 14 PPS.
"Kulai on the other hand has 86 affected victims from 23 families placed in PPS Dewan Kampung Murni Jaya while Segamat remains with 20 affected victims from five families at PPS Balairaya Kampung Batu Badak.
"A total of 17 victims from four families in Pontian were placed at PPS Kebangsaan Sekolah (SK) Melayu Rata Pekan Nanas," he said in a statement this morning.
Meanwhile, Kota Tinggi district police chief Superintendent Hussin Zamora said as of midnight last night, Jalan Tun Sri Lanang was closed to all vehicles after being flooded with water up to 0.6 meters for a distance of 650 meters.
He said that officers and police personnel have been mobilised to control the road area after the waters started entering the Kota Tinggi city area since yesterday evening.
"We would like to advise the public who want to go out and enter the Kota Tinggi city centre to use an alternative road which is Jalan Pintasan," he said.
He also reminded the public to always be careful when driving especially at night by obeying the warning signs and detours placed in flood-affected areas.
Meanwhile, Sungai Johor in Kota Tinggi rose sharply past the danger level to 3.40 meters compared to the level of 2.60 meters, Sungai Kepala Orang River in Kampung Sri Jaya, Kota Tinggi passed the danger level of 8.76 meters and Sungai Linggiu also passed the danger level of 31.40 meters.
"Sungai Kahang in Kampung Contoh, Kluang also passed the danger level of 15.90 meters while Sungai Siam in Kampung Siam, Kulai recorded a danger level of 20.95 meters," Azmi said.
Two rivers are at the warning level , Sungai Lenik in Ladang Chaah, Batu Pahat recorded a level of 5.75 meters while Sungai Siku in Kampung Murni Jaya, Kulai recorded a warning level of 17.86 meters.
"Nine rivers are at alert levels, which are Sungai Skudai in Kampung Pasir (0.08 meters); Sungai Tiram in Kampung Dagang (2.90 meters); Sungai Ayer Hitam in Kampung Mawai (3.38 meters) and Sungai Paya Dato' (1.21 meters).
"In addition, Sungai Ayer Hitam in Pontian (4.75 meters) and Sungai Sembrong in Batu Pahat (3.01 meters) and three rivers in Segamat which are Sungai Muar in Kampung Awat (19.33 meters); the Sungai Muar in Buloh Kasap (8.11 meters) and the Segamat River (36.55 meters)," he said.