JOHOR BARU — The number of flood victims in Johor increased to 6,248 in seven districts as of noon on Sunday (Jan 3), up from the overnight figure of 1,628.

A total of 56 evacuation centres were opened in the seven affected districts to house 5,818 victims from 1,540 families earlier Sunday.

Meanwhile, up to 10 major roads in the state are now inundated, with seven of them closed to all types of vehicle due to high water levels and strong currents, as well as collapsed bridges.

The seven closed roads are: Jalan Sungai Sayong, Kota Tinggi (Sungai Sayong Bridge); Jalan Tun Sri Lanang, Kota Tinggi; Jalan Semanggar, Kota Tinggi (bridge); Jalan Mawai Lama; Jalan Haji Suhud, Taman Muhibbah, Johor Baru (collapsed bridge); Jalan Batu Pahat-Mersing, Kluang (Johor State Farmers Organisation) and Jalan Batu Pahat-Kluang (Ladang Pelangi).

The three roads passable only by heavy vehicles are: Jalan Kluang-Mersing, Kluang (Kampung Contoh, Kahang) due to the collapse of an embankment; Jalan Batu Pahat-Kluang (Ladang Paloh); and Jalan Batu Pahat-Kluang (SMK Kahang).

Johor Health and Environment Committee chairman R Vidyananthan said flood victims are urged to remain at the evacuation centres due to unpredictable weather conditions, with rain still falling in most parts of the state.

He said Kluang district was most affected by the floodwaters, with the number of victims increasing to 1,867 people from 557 families housed in 19 evacuation centres as of noon, compared to 1,826 victims from 545 families as of Sunday morning.

"The flood victims in Kota Tinggi district also jumped to 1,125 people from 256 families at 14 evacuation centres, compared to only 868 people from 221 families this morning.

"Johor Baru district saw a total of 2,452 people from 593 families being evacuated to 13 evacuation centres, compared to only 690 flood victims from 189 families housed at six evacuation centres last night.

"Similarly, Kulai district saw 581 victims from 156 families relocated to five evacuation centres this morning, compared to only 99 flood victims from 25 families in two evacuation centres last night.

"Batu Pahat district also saw 28 flood victims from 10 families being housed in two evacuation centres this morning, compared to only seven flood victims from four families at the Sekolah Kebangsaan Sri Bulan evacuation centres in Yong Peng last night," he said in a statement on Sunday.

Vidyananthan said the number of flood victims in Mersing also rose to 189 people from 54 families at two evacuation centres, compared to only 57 victims from 14 families this morning.

"In Pontian, six families were evacuated to the Dewan Masjid Kampung Ulu Pulai evacuation centre last night," he said.

Flooding, which has entered its third day in Johor, has so far claimed the life of a senior citizen. Halijah Majid, 59, from Kampung Contoh in Pekan Kahang, drowned after slipping into a ditch in front of her house while trying to get to an evacuation centre on Saturday. NEW STRAITS TIMES