KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): The number of flood evacuees housed at temporary relief centres (TRCs) in Perak continued to increase Saturday (Aug 21) afternoon, while Kedah recorded a slight drop in the number of flood victims.

       In PERAK, the number of flood evacuees increased Saturday afternoon, with 186 people houserd in four TRC in two districts, compared with 149 people reported in the morning.

       A spokesman for the Perak State Disaster Management Committee said that a TRC was opened at 10am Saturday to house 11 people from five families at SK Alor Pongsu in Kerian.

       "The number of flood evacuees at the SK Changkat Lobak TRC has also increased to 55 people from 15 families this afternoon, compared with only 18 people in the morning.

       "Also, the number of flood victims housed at the SK Matang TRC remained at 107 people, and those given shelter at the Sungai Baru TRC in Trong also remained at 13,” he said.

       The TRC at SMK Smart Batu 8, Jalan Changkat Jong, in Teluk Intan, was closed at 1pm Saturday as the flood situation at Batu 8 and Lorong Sidang Osman in Changkat Jong had gradually eased.

       Meanwhile, PLUS Malaysia Bhd said, in a tweet, that the Alor Pongsu lay-bys along the North-South Expressway, in both directions, are still closed to all vehicles, due to the floods.

       In KEDAH, the SK Siong TRC, near Baling, which was activated at 3am Saturday, was closed at 9am after five victims from one family were allowed to return home.

       A spokesman for the Kedah branch of the Malaysia Civil Defence Force said, in a statement, that currently, only two TRC were still in operation in Yan, namely SMK Agama Yan and SK Teroi.

       "However, currently, no flood evacuees are being housed at the centres,” he said.

       On Wednesday (Aug 18) evening, water surges from the waterfall areas at the foot of Gunung Jerai caused floods that affected around 1,000 houses in Yan and Kuala Muda, besides causing four deaths so far. - Bernama