KOTA BARU: About 7,000 officers from various agencies have been deployed to Kelantan to assist the state, which was badly hit by the flood, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
He said they have been deployed to the state in stages over the past four days.
"There has been a drastic increase in the number of flood victims recorded in the country, with a total of 89,000 victims evacuated as of today.
"The flood situation in Kelantan is worse this time compared to 2014. At the moment, more than 67,000 victims from 20,500 families have been evacuated in Kelantan, with 249 flood relief centres opened.
"I have discussed the issue of food, including assets, with Kelantan Menteri Besar and was informed that various types of assets have been deployed here recently, such as army trucks and others.
"These assets have been handled by the police and the Fire and Rescue Department.
"InsyaAllah... we will mobilise other assets soon," he added.
Zahid, who is also the National Disaster Management Committee chairman, told a press conference after visiting flood victims at SK Tapang here today.
Accompanying him were Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Nassuruddin Daud and Kelantan police chief, who is the state flood operation director, Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat.
Zahid said he was informed that the state Fishermen Association has offered to help the authorities in the flood rescue work.
"These fishermen want to help the relevant agencies, especially in the rural areas that could not be reached by normal vehicles," he added.