Johor floods displace over 10,000; conditions worsen in Sabah and Sarawak.

KUALA LUMPUR, March 21 — The flood situation in Johor, Sabah, and Sarawak has deteriorated, with the number of evacuees seeking refuge in relief centres continuing to rise as of 8 am today.

In Johor, the number of displaced residents has surged to 10,763 from 3,018 families, now housed in 98 relief centres across five affected districts.

State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN) chairman Tan Sri Dr Azmi Rohani reported that Johor Bahru recorded the highest number of evacuees at 4,291, followed by Kluang (2,163), Kota Tinggi (1,762), Pontian (1,395), and Kulai (1,152).

In Sabah, the state JPBN Secretariat confirmed that 1,248 individuals from 396 families have been displaced, currently staying in 11 relief centres.

“A total of 14 villages have been affected—five in Kota Marudu, two each in Sandakan, Beluran, Paitan, and Matunggong, and one in Pitas. This morning, only Kota Marudu recorded a rise in evacuees, while numbers in other districts remained unchanged,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, in Sarawak, three additional relief centres have been opened as the number of evacuees has increased to 274.

According to the Sarawak JPBN, the first relief centre at Balai Raya Song, which opened yesterday, now shelters 198 people. The newly opened centres include Asrama Belia Kapit (31 evacuees), Dewan Kompleks Sukan Kanowit (38), and Dewan Komuniti Sibu Jaya (7). — Bernama