UPDATED
PASIR PUTEH, Nov 6 – Mohd Mazlan Yajid, 28, has become the first flood victim in Kelantan after he was reported missing at Sungai Banggol Kerian here today.
His brother Mohd Anuar, 21, said Mohd Mazlan jumped into the river for a swim at 6.30pm and was swept away by strong currents.
“Several villagers staying about 500 metres from the river saw the whole incident,” he told reporters here today.
Pasir Puteh Fire and Rescue officer Kaharuddin Yahya said the search, which began at 7pm, was stopped two hours later due to darkness and strong currents. He added that the search operation will continue tomorrow.
Two houses in Kampung La, Besut, were swept away by strong current this afternoon as the flood situation worsened in the east coast.
None of the 11 people from two families were in their homes during the 4pm incident as they had earlier moved to an evacuation centre nearby.
House owners Aziz Abas, in his 50s, and Che Min Daud, in his 40s, both rubber tappers, watched helplessly as their homes swayed away in the strong current and drifted into the river.
When met by Bernama, Aziz said he was saddened over the loss of his home but thankful that his wife and four children are safe at the centre at Sekolah Kebangsaan Payung.
Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said, who had to travel in a lorry to reach flood victims following the closure of roads to light vehicles, promised to quickly extend assistance to the victims.
Meanwhile, a Terengganu National Security Division spokesman said a total of 1,667 flood victims from Besut, Hulu Terengganu, Setiu and Dungun were still in 24 flood evacuation centres as at 8pm.
The biggest number of evacuees are from Besut, at 1,187 followed by Setiu (402) and Dungun (50). He said the water level in Sungai Besut, Sungai Setiu, Sungai Terengganu and Sungai Hulu Terengganu was still above the danger level while several roads were still closed to light vehicles. Jalan Kuala Berang-Sungai Tong in Kuala Ping is closed to all vehicles, he said.
In KOTA BARU, the number of evacuees in Kelantan rose to 1,210 as more areas are flooded.
After Kuala Krai and Pasir Mas, the latest districts affected by the flood are Machang, Jeli and Tanah Merah.
A spokesman for the state's flood operations room said as at 8pm, 308 people in Kuala Krai were still in evacuation centres, 188 in Machang, Jeli (33), Pasir Mas (432) and Tanah Merah (249).
He said water levels in Sungai Golok in Jenob, Tanah Merah and Rantau Panjang, and Sungai Kelantan in Kusial, Tanah Merah remained above the danger level.
Several major roads namely Jalan Kota Baharu-Kuala Krai in Sungai Durian and Jalan Kota Baru-Terengganu in Bukit Abal, Pasir Puteh are closed to light vehicles.
In KANGAR, several villages in Perlis are inundated with floodwater, forcing the evacuation of 100 people from Batu Bertangkup, Panggas and Titi Tinggi.
Executive councillor Mansor Jusoh said he believed that more would be evacuated in the days to come if the situation persisted.
He said that various agencies including the Welfare Department, Fire and Rescue Department, Civil Defence Department, Rela and police were now monitoring the situation.
The state government would also provide aid to the victims, he said. – Bernama
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