ALOR STAR: The number of flood victims in Kedah increased to 1,018 people from 268 families as of 8pm.
Harian Metro quoted state Social Welfare Department director Datuk Zulkhairi Zainol Abidin as saying that the victims were now seeking refuge in nine flood evacuation centres statewide.
The figure is more than the 675 flood victims recorded throughout Kedah at 5pm today.
Earlier, Zulkhairi had told Bernama that the 675 victims comprised 159 families from four districts in Kubang Pasu, Pendang, Kulim and Pokok Sena.
"Pokok Sena was the worst affected, with 255 victims from 63 families evacuated to two centres, namely SK Bukit Hijau and Maahad Tarbiyah Islamiyah Derang.
"Pendang district recorded 187 victims from 20 families who were evacuated to Dewan Kompleks Rakan Sukan Tanah Merah evacuation centre," he said when met by reporters after checking the SK Malau evacuation centre here today.
He said 134 victims from 45 families were evacuated to three centres in Kubang Pasu: SK Malau, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Changlun and Dewan PPK Lubuk Batu.
In Kulim, he said a total of 99 victims from 31 families were evacuated to three evacuation centres, namely Surau Taman Sang Kancil Lunas, Surau Kampung Paya Tok Betok and SK Mahang.
Zulkhairi said in ensuring the welfare of the victims at the centresis taken care of, the department has prepared for their daily needs, especially food and other basic requirements.
"The Kedah Social Welfare Department is always ready to face all eventualities by ensuring that food supplies are always sufficient. The existing food supply can last for two weeks for some 10,000 victims.
So far the available supplies are sufficient to be distributed to the evacuation centres," he said.
He added the department had also placed psychological officers at the PPS to help affected flood victims.
Meanwhile, during the current flood disaster, the Kedah Social Welfare Department is using a new registration system by utilising QR codes to register flood victims entering and exiting the evacuation centres.
He told Bernama that the move was to facilitate the registration and monitoring of flood victims at the evacuation centres as well as ensure aid is distributed more effectively.
"When the victims scan the QR and enter the required information, they will be directly registered into the department disaster information system. Following this, the victims and their families will be placed in evacuation centres, and food supplies will be distributed accordingly.
"This is the first time that this system is being used in Kedah; other states had implemented it previously. The move is to make it easier for victims so that they no longer need to fill in forms," he said.