SEGAMAT: A total of 1,646 people from 425 families have been evacuated from their homes in Segamat and Tangkak since the continuous rain started last Friday (Dec 31) night.

       State Health and Environment Committee chairman R. Vidyananthan said that as of 8am on Sunday (Jan 2), a total of 28 temporary relief centres (PPS) had been opened with 27 PPS in Segamat and one PPS in Tangkak.

       "The most affected area is at Kampung Baru Gemas, Taman Gembira, Taman Wira, and Taman Bintang, with 274 people from 70 families, followed by Kampung Tenang, with 267 people from 73 families in Segamat.

       "All of the victims were placed at Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (C) Tah Kang and Sekolah Kebangsaan Kampung Tenang," he said in a statement here.

       He also shared that five rivers had recorded dangerous levels - Sungai Kesang near Telok Rimba, and Sungai Tangkak near Kampung Seri Makmur, in Tangkak; and Sungai Segamat near Bandar Segamat, Sungai Lenik near Ladang Chaah in Segamat, and Sungai Muar near Buloh Kasap in Segamat.

       Sungai Kesang had risen to 3.28m over the dangerous level of 3.0m, Sungai Tangkak was now at 4.17m from 4.00m, Sungai Segamat was at 9.45m from 9.14m, Sungai Lenik was at 5.93m from 5.50m, and Sungai Muar was at 8.74m from 8.53m.

       Four roads in Mersing had also been closed, namely Jalan Kampung Orang Asli Peta, Jalan Kampung Orang Asli Punan, Jalan Bangas Kampung Simpang Loi, and Jalan Puting.