KUALA LUMPUR: Jumlah mangsa banjir membabitkan lima negeri terus meningkat kepada 8,895 orang yang membabitkan 3,162 keluarga.

Semua mangsa kini ditempatkan di 40 pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS) yang dibuka di semua negeri terbabit setakat jam 8 malam ini.

Agensi Pengurusan Bencana Negara (NADMA) berkata, Kelantan merekodkan jumlah mangsa banjir tertinggi iaitu 7,695 orang daripada 2,810 keluarga dengan 31 PPS dibuka di empat daerah.

Ia membabitkan Tumpat dengan 4,221 mangsa, diikuti Kota Bharu (1,941 mangsa) Bachok (1,416 mangsa) dan Pasir Puteh (117 mangsa).

TAIPEI, Nov 23 — Taipei resident Jay Tsai hopes he never needs the crisis guide Taiwan is handing out to millions of households across the island, which faces threats of natural disasters and a Chinese invasion.

The government began sliding the orange booklet under doors and into mailboxes this week to raise awareness about potential dangers, but critics have branded it a waste of taxpayers’ money.

“I hope we’ll never need it but it feels reassuring to have,” Tsai, a 31-year-old 3D animation specialist, told AFP.

“I’ll put it near my emergency items at home, like the flashlight, just so I know it’s there.”

The 32-page booklet offers advice on everything from how to prepare a “go bag” to what to do when an air-raid siren sounds and how to give first-aid.

It also warns readers that “hostile foreign forces” could use disinformation to weaken their resolve to defend the island if China attacks.

“In the event of a military invasion of Taiwan, any claim that the government has surrendered or that the nation has been defeated is false,” it says.

The new printed version is the first time the government has opted for paper emergency guidelines for the public after previously publishing them online.

“A printed copy ensures that... the elderly in rural areas or anyone without access to digital tools can still obtain the information they need,” Defence Minister Wellington Koo told lawmakers on Wednesday.

‘Stay alert’ 

The guide, titled “In Case of Crisis”, is part of President Lai Ching-te’s efforts to prepare the island’s 23 million people for a disaster or conflict.

“I think it’s quite helpful,” Chi Chien-han, 43, a community leader, told AFP. “It reminds us to stay alert rather than acting like nothing matters.”

However, IT worker Yang Chen-che said the guide was more political than practical and he would probably “throw it away”.

“You can look up all of this online,” Yang, 38, told AFP. “I don’t need to keep a paper copy.”

Chiang Chu-hsuan, 60, another community leader, dismissed the guide as a “waste of money” and said Lai should try hard to “avoid war”.

The defence ministry said Taiwan had studied similar books recently published by countries such as Sweden and France when putting its guide together.

“I think this booklet actually shows our determination of defending ourselves,” said Lin Fei-fan, deputy secretary-general of the National Security Council.

Yeh Yuan-chih, a legislator with the main opposition Kuomintang party, which advocates for warmer ties with China, questioned the cost of printing and delivering the booklet.

“Is it necessary to spend more than NT$60 million (US$1.9 million or about RM7.94 million)?” Yeh asked Koo in parliament.

The government expects to finish distributing the guides to nearly 10 million households by early January.

“In the past, war didn’t feel that close to us,” said 32-year-old resident Ruru Liu.

“But after what happened in Ukraine I think this might help people to some extent.” — AFP

KANGAR: Around 400 people were stranded at Wang Kelian near Padang Besar after a landslide occurred on Jalan Wang Kelian around 1pm on Sunday (Nov 23), following continuous rainfall since early this morning.

Padang Besar District Police chief ACP Mohd Shokri Abdullah said the group comprised 300 Malaysians returning from Thailand via the Wang Kelian Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex, with the remainder being local residents affected by flooding.

"They are safe at the mosque as the area is on higher ground. Police, along with other agencies such as the Fire and Rescue Department, the Civil Defence Force, and the Public Works Department are monitoring the situation continuously,” he said in a phone interview with Bernama tonight.

Mohd Shokri said that as of tonight, the road remained closed due to concerns of further landslides. - Bernama

IPOH – Hujan berterusan sejak pagi tadi menyebabkan 15 orang mangsa dari daerah Batang Padang terjejas ekoran bencana banjir dengan mereka telah ditempatkan di sebuah pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS).

Jurucakap Jawatankuasa Sekretariat Pengurusan Bencana Negeri Perak berkata, kesemua 15 mangsa yang direkodkan setakat pukul 9 malam berkenaan melibatkan lima buah keluarga dari daerah tersebut.

Katanya, dua lagi PPS telah dibuka di daerah Perak Tengah namun bilangan mangsa masih belum direkodkan.

“Bilangan mangsa yang berlindung di kesemua PPS akan dikemas kini memandangkan pemindahan serta pendaftaran mangsa masih lagi berjalan.

“Tiga PPS yang dibuka ialah PPS Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Simpang Tiga dan PPS SK Layang-Layang Kiri di Parit serta PPS Dewan Serbaguna Kg. Klah Baru di Sungkai,” katanya di sini hari ini. – KOSMO! ONLINE