Johor Bahru: Jumlah mangsa banjir di lima daerah yang terjejas di negeri ini tinggal 2,472 orang terdiri daripada 704 keluarga, setakat jam 2 petang semalam.

Jumlah itu berkurangan daripada 3,893 orang terdiri daripada 1,154 keluarga pada pagi semalam.

Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Bencana Negeri (JPBN), Tan Sri Dr Azmi Rohani berkata, jumlah pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS) yang masih aktif menempatkan mangsa banjir adalah sebanyak 23 buah.

“Jumlah mangsa banjir di Johor Bahru terus berkurangan daripada 2,409 mangsa (727 keluarga) pada pagi tadi (semalam) menjadi 1,281 orang (356 keluarga) setakat ini yang berada di tujuh PPS yang masih aktif.

“Pontian juga menunjukkan penurunan dari segi jumlah mangsa banjir iaitu daripada 552 orang (156 keluarga) pagi tadi (semalam) menjadi 389 orang (106 keluarga) di enam PPS.

“Di Kluang juga, mangsa banjir berkurang daripada 487 orang (136 keluarga) pagi tadi (semalam) kepada 357 orang (105 keluarga) di empat PPS,” katanya menerusi kenyataan media, semalam.

Azmi yang juga Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Johor berkata, banjir di Kota Tinggi hampir pulih selepas 10 mangsa dibenarkan pulang ke rumah menjadikan mangsa yang masih ditempatkan di dua PPS di daerah itu adalah seramai 77 orang daripada 24 keluarga.

JOHOR BARU: Floods in five Johor districts are receding despite continuous rain and thunderstorm forecasts.

Up to 4pm yesterday, 2,455 evacuees from 703 families remained in 23 relief centres in Johor Baru, Pontian, Kota Tinggi, Kluang and Batu Pahat.

Johor Baru remains the worst hit, with more than 2,300 evacuees in 10 centres. Those in other districts are gradually returning home as floodwaters subside.

State Disaster Management Committee chairman Tan Sri Dr Azmi Rohani said clean-up efforts were well underway, with volunteers helping to clear debris and remove damaged furniture.

SWM Environment Sdn Bhd corporate general manager Mohd Norlisam Mohd Nordin said waste management teams had collected some 150 tonnes of debris from flood-hit areas.

Local community groups have been instrumental in clean-up efforts, with Johor DAP vice-chairman Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali saying more than 50 volunteers were deployed to provide assistance.

“RM5,000 was donated for cleaning supplies, food for volunteers and essential equipment. We also provided eight roll-on-roll-off bins for waste disposal and coordinated public donations,” he said.

In Kota Tinggi, floodwaters caused significant losses for traders, particularly at the Aidilfitri bazaar near Sungai Johor.

More than half of the clothing on sale were soaked, leaving several bazaar traders devastated.

Dya Meli Asman, 21, said it was her first attempt at selling Raya clothes after previously running a salon.

“I had invested more than RM80,000 into selling Raya clothing for women, men and children.

“When I arrived at the site, I found that the river next to the bazaar had overflowed, and water was rising fast.

“We packed up until 10pm, but it was a challenge as three of my workers couldn’t help because their homes were also affected by the flood,” she said.

Dya Meli was managing the business alone as her family lives in Pahang. To reduce her losses, she plans to hold a clearance sale for the damaged clothing after getting them cleaned.

Mohd Ridzuan Adnan, 36, a longtime seller of Raya biscuits, said the flood was unexpected.

“We’ve been trading here every Ramadan for more than 20 years. We’ve never seen floods or weather like this. It’s usually scorching heat.

“With less than two weeks until Syawal, this should have been the peak period for the sale of Raya biscuits, but the heavy rain has deterred customers,” he said. Ridzuan remains hopeful.

“We only hope there won’t be more floods. We’ve taken precautions by placing our stock on higher ground, but we remain optimistic moving forward.”

THE Sultan Ibrahim Johor Foundation has stepped up to support flood recovery efforts by donating essential cleaning equipment to affected schools in the state.

According to a statement on Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar’s Facebook page, the donations were handed over by foundation trustee Datuk Avinderjit Singh to State Education Department director Mohd Hanafi Samad and Johor Baru district Islamic Education officer Samsuddin Mahdi yesterday.

The equipment included highpressure water jets, brooms and rubbish bags for Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Kampung Maju Jaya and Sekolah Agama (SA) Kampung Maju Jaya in Johor Baru.

On Sunday, foundation chief executive officer Mohd Anizam Jamian delivered aid to Mohd Hanafi Samad and senior assistant teacher Fauziah Ehwan for SK Kangkar Tebrau and SA Kangkar Tebrau in Pasir Gudang.

The schools are among 11 educational institutions in Johor affected by the floods since March 19.

“The Sultan Ibrahim Johor Foundation remains committed to assisting communities affected by disasters and ensuring that the affected schools receive the necessary resources for postflood recovery,” the statement said.

KANOWIT, March 21 — Continuous heavy rainfall has triggered severe flooding in Kanowit, with rising waters from the Batang Rajang River inundating large parts of the town yesterday.

The Penyulau-Lukut access road became impassable by 10am, cutting off movement in the area.

Peter Nyaiyang, a resident of Rumah Winston Kennedy longhouse in Nanga Sekuau, reported that he was forced to park his motorcycle on higher ground and walk approximately five kilometres home, as floodwaters reached four feet deep by 6.30pm.

Describing the situation as unprecedented, he expressed concern over the worsening conditions.

“If the water level keeps rising, I might not be able to go to work in Sibu Jaya tomorrow,” he said when contacted.

“If the flood situation worsens, I must be better prepared to safeguard his family,” he added.

Meanwhile, in a separate incident, the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) received a distress call at 3.32pm regarding a hearse stranded in floodwaters along Jalan Rantau Kemiding.

A rescue team deployed a boat to ensure the coffin was safely delivered to Rumah Joseph nearby.

In Kanowit town, water levels have risen to knee height in the deepest areas, forcing most businesses to close. Several longhouses along Jalan Nibong Tada, extending to Nanga Ngemah, are also affected.

In response to the worsening situation, the Kanowit District Office has opened a temporary evacuation centre (PPS) at the Kanowit Sports Complex at 6.30pm.

Kanowit District Officer Jackline August said the PPS was opened after discussions with the Kanowit Fire and Rescue Station (Bomba) earlier.

“We have decided to open the temporary evacuation centre at the Kanowit Sports Complex to accommodate affected residents.

“I urge all relevant agencies, including the Welfare Department, Armed Forces, Police, Bomba, and Civil Defence Force, to assist in managing the centre and providing aid to those in need,” she said.

Residents are advised to remain vigilant and follow updates from local authorities as the situation develops. — The Borneo Post