KUALA LUMPUR: The Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) is forecasting floods in stages in several areas in Kelantan and Terengganu on Thursday (Dec 30) night.

       According to a statement issued by the DID National Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (PRABN), the risk of floods was forecasted in Kelantan at 8pm in districts of Jeli, Kuala Krai, Tanah Merah, Machang, Gua Musang and Pasir Mas.

       Flood is forecasted in Terengganu in stages at 8pm tonight in several districts among them Setiu, Dungun, Hulu Terengganu and Besut, while the risk of flood is forecasted in Pahang tomorrow (Dec 31) in the districts of Lipis, Raub, Maran, Temerloh and Jerantut as well as the surrounding low-lying areas.

       "Other areas in Pahang are around Sungai Kuantan, Sungai Rompin, Sungai Pontian and Sungai Endau involving areas around Kuantan and Rompin,” the statement said.

       For Johor, floods are expected at 2pm tomorrow (Dec 31) involving the areas around Sungai Mersing, Sungai Endau, Sungai Johor, Sungai Skudai and Sungai Tebrau involving the districts of Mersing, Kluang, Kota Tinggi, and Johor Baru.

       Earlier, the Malaysian Meteorological Department issued a danger-level weather warning, forecasting continuous heavy rain in three east coast states - Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang till Friday (Dec 31).

       The warning issued by the MetMalaysia at 1.25pm on Thursday said the areas in the three states are Jeli (Kelantan), Kemaman (Terengganu) and Kuantan (Pahang).

       An orange bad weather alert for continuous heavy rain was issued for areas such as Tanah Merah, Machang, Kuala Krai and Gua Musang in Kelantan; Besut Hulu Terengganu and Dungun in Terengganu; as well as Jerantut, Maran and Pekan in Pahang until Jan 1.

       Meanwhile, an alert level warning with continuous rain until jan 1 is forecasted in Perlis; Kedah (Kubang Pasu, Pokok Sena, Padang Terap, Pendang, Sik and Baling); Perak (Hulu Perak); Kelantan (Tumpat, Pasir Mas, Kota Bharu, Bachok and Pasir Putih); Terengganu (Setiu, Kuala Nerus, Kuala Terengganu and Marang); Pahang (Cameron Highlands, Lipis, Raub, Bentong, Temerloh, Bera and Rompin); and Johor.

       Continuous rain is also expected in Sabah involving the west coast (Ranau); Tawau (Lahad Datu); Sandakan (Telupid, Kinabatangan, Beluran and Sandakan); as well as Kudat till Jan 2.

       Following that, the National Disaster Control Centre (NDCC) of the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) in a statement announced that the Disaster Management Committees at state /district levels should heighten their preparedness to face potential calamities, especially in high-risk areas.

       State and District Disaster Management Committees were also told to ensure temporary relief centres have the required basic necessities and On-Scene Command Post (PKTK) have the operational assets for use, the statement said.

       Nadma via NDCC will be monitoring the technical parameters with the cooperation of the various technical agencies. - Bernama