Severe floods hit five districts in Johor, 2,550 people evacuated
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Authorities have warned that the number of flood victims may increase.
PHOTO: THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
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JOHOR – Heavy rainfall in Johor has led to severe flooding in five districts, forcing the evacuation of 2,550 residents.
The Johor Disaster Management Committee said that as at 4pm on March 20, the evacuees, from 707 families, had been placed at 43 temporary relief centres.
“Johor Bahru still has the highest number of evacuees with 784 people, followed by Kota Tinggi (729), Kulai (506), Pontian (495) and Kluang (36),” it said in a statement.
Johor Bahru mayor Datuk Mohd Haffiz Ahmad said all flood victims within the Johor Bahru City Council (MBJB) jurisdiction would receive aid.
He said: “We will provide them with food baskets and some cash to help ease the burden of relocating.
“We also urge those staying at the PPS to remain there until the situation is deemed safe and not attempt to return home prematurely.”
He added that the city council had launched its special emergency response team on March 19, to ensure that all drainage systems are not clogged and working properly.
He said: “Any waste washed in by the floodwaters will also be cleared. We hope this small step will help prevent a larger-scale flood,” he said, adding that the floods in Johor Bahru were caused by the ongoing high tide combined with continuous heavy rainfall.
Several schools in Johor have also been affected by the floods, with some experiencing rising water levels and others cut off due to heavy rainfall.
Johor Education and Information Committee chairman Aznan Tamin said that as at 12pm on March 20, 11 schools had become completely inaccessible.
He added that more schools could be activated as temporary relief centres later in the day as flood conditions persist.
“Schools in every district have been designated as PPS (temporary relief centres), and we continuously remind them to stay prepared for evacuees at any time,” he told reporters after visiting the SK Bukit Mutiara relief centre.
“We have held multiple discussions with the Johor state and federal governments to ensure these schools are ready to function as relief centres in the event of floods.”
Mr Aznan said that despite the disruptions, the education department was ensuring that lessons continued.
He noted that about 110 students across Johor Bahru, Pontian and Kulai had been directly affected.
The authorities have warned that the number of flood victims may increase as more reports from affected areas are updated.
Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi has urged residents to stay alert and follow official directives as continuous heavy rainfall is expected to persist until March 21.
“I have received a report from the Johor Meteorological Department stating that continuous heavy rain is expected until Friday (March 21),” said the state chief minister.
“An orange alert warning has been issued for severe rainfall in Kluang, Mersing, Pontian, Kulai, Kota Tinggi and Johor Bahru. Meanwhile, a yellow alert for continuous rainfall has been issued for Tangkak, Segamat, Muar and Batu Pahat.”
He added: “I urge all Johoreans to remain vigilant and adhere to any directives from the authorities while prioritising their own safety and that of their families.”
The public is advised to stay updated through official sources and take the necessary precautions, particularly in flood-prone areas. THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
