JOHOR BAHRU - The number of flood victims in Johor doubled to more than 4,000 on Wednesday afternoon as the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) warned that “dangerous-level” heavy rains will continue in Johor and Sabah until Thursday.

MetMalaysia raised the highest level warning for several areas in Johor, including Mersing and Kota Tinggi, as well as Sabah’s Sandakan and Kudat.

The weather authority issued a mid-level “severe” warning for Pahang state, including Pekan and Rompin, until Thursday.

The state disaster management committee in Johor said there are currently 4,368 flood evacuees at 44 relief centres across six districts, with Muar being the latest.

“All the affected districts are showing an increasing trend, with the highest number of victims at Segamat, with 1,522 people, followed by Kluang (1,222), Mersing (708), Kota Tinggi (591), Batu Pahat (119), and Muar (206),” it said in a statement.

Minister for Sabah and Sarawak Affairs in the Prime Minister’s Department Armizan Ali said Johor, Sabah and Pahang should be prepared for possible floods from a “third wave” of the ongoing north-east monsoon.

“The first and second waves of the monsoon occurred in December. Although there are no official reports from MetMalaysia, heavy rains that began on Tuesday and are forecast to continue until Jan 30 can be categorised as the monsoon’s third wave,” he told reporters.

The relief centre with the highest number of evacuees is primary school SK Tenang Labis in Johor, with 477 people from Kampung Tenang in Segamat.

In Labis, a town in Segamat, three people had a harrowing experience when their car crashed into a lake while it was raining. The incident took place at Jalan Impian on Tuesday.

Labis Fire and Rescue Department operations chief Inggai Bakau said the victims, aged between 13 and 23, were heading towards Segamat when the driver lost control of his car. They suffered minor injuries and were treated at Hospital Segamat. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK