Students of Universiti Sains Malaysia in George Town preparing to distribute mattresses, donated by Kelab Putra 1Malaysia humanitarian aid mission for victims of the Penang floods, yesterday. Help for victims of the deluge last weekend that claimed seven lives has poured in from both the government and private sectors. The number of evacuees at relief centres stood at over 1,000 yesterday morning, compared with more than 7,000 at the height of the disaster, as people have started to return home. Malaysia's Meteorological Department said yesterday that the north-east monsoon is expected to start tomorrow and continue until March on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. Heavy rain is expected in Kelantan, Pahang, Terengganu and Johor these two months.