Floods : More than 1,000 evacuated In Terengganu

KUALA TERENGGANU: The number of flood victims in Terengganu rose to 1,013 people as of 8pm Tuesday as the floods in several districts worsened.

They are currently housed in 14 evacuation centres, a spokesperson of the Terengganu National Security Council said.

The floods also forced the closure of over 23 schools, of which 12 were in Setiu involving 1,500 students, nine in Hulu Terengganu with 1,400 students and two in Besut with with 700 students.

In KANGAR, several low-lying districts in Perlis were flooded, with seven families having been evacuated so far.

"We have readied 23 flood evacuation centres to face any eventuality," Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Md Isa Sabu told a news conference.

Meanwhile, heavy rain and strong winds slammed three districts in Kedah late Monday evening, uprooting trees and damaging over 150 houses.

Initial report from the Welfare Department showed Kuala Kedah to be the worst hit district with about 100 houses destroyed, followed by 30 houses in Alor Setar and 21 Pokok Sena.

No loss of life was reported.

Assistant officer of the Kota Setar Welfare Department, Rusmini Meh, said officers from the department were now at the affected areas to survey the damage and obtaining details of the victims for the purpose of providing assistance," he told Bernama when contacted.

Kuala Kedah Umno deputy division chief Datuk Abdul Mutalib Haron, members of the Federal Village Security and Development Committee, and Welfare Department staff were at Kuala Kedah until midnight Monday night to provide assistance to the victims. - Bernama