KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 3 — The flood situation in six states continue to improve with the number of flood victims recorded at relief centres in Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Perak, Johor and Sabah on the decline as at 7pm today.

In Kelantan the number of evacuees dropped to 9,877 this evening from 9,957 recorded in the afternoon.

A spokesman for the Kelantan Social Welfare Department (JKM) said Tanah Merah still had 1,668 evacuees, Kuala Krai (3,636), Machang (2,419) and Gua Musang (2,154).

Tumpat relief centre was closed this evening. In Terengganu, the overall situation improved when the number of victims in Dungun district declined to 44 people this evening from 143 in the afternoon.

The State National Security Council (MKN) portal reported all victims were sheltered at Sekolah Menengah Durian Mentangau.

In Pahang, the number of flood victims in the state dropped slightly to 42,703 this evening from 42,938 recorded in the afternoon and they were currently taking shelter at 183 relief centres in seven affected districts. The Pahang police contingent headquarters flood operations room spokesman said the seven districts still affected are Temerloh with 20,909 victims, Pekan (11,096), Jerantut (3,659), Bera (3,416), Maran (2,149), Kuantan (1,074) and Lipis (400).

In Perak, evacuees recorded decreased to 6,653 this evening from 6,775 this afternoon. Perak MKN spokesman said all victims were still at 42 centres in five districts of Hulu Perak, Kuala Kangsar, Perak Tengah, Manjung and Hilir Perak.

Flood victims in Perak Tengah district declined slightly to 5,056, in Kuala Kangsar (460), Hilir Perak (272) and Manjung (140) while in Hulu Perak the number remained at 725.

In Johor, the flood situation improved with the number of victims dropped to 86 victims in the evening from 116 recorded this afternoon.

A total of 30 evacuees at Sekolah Agama Kampung Kuala Paya in Segamat district were allowed to return to their homes.

At present, only five centres in Johor were still operating namely Sekolah Kebangsaan Kota Dalam in Batu Pahat sheltering 28 evacuees, Sekolah Kebangsaan Kampung Simpang Loi (11), Kampung Batu Badak community hall (28), Kampung Tandung community hall (10) and Kampung Sanglang community hall (nine).

Meanwhile, in Sabah, the number of evacuees at four relief centres in four districts of the state had dropped to 1,023 this evening from 1,105 recorded this afternoon.

The number of victims in Kudat, however, recorded a sharp increase to 864 from 265 recorded in the afternoon and they were placed in SK Sikuati.

Kudat District Officer Sabdin Ibrahim said this was due to the rise of the water level in Korina River to 2.68 metres, surpassing the danger level of 2.2 metres.

In Pitas district there were 139 evacuees housed at SK Rokum and Kg Kebatasan Church hall.

Meanwhile Kota Belud District Officer Abdul Gari Itam said the Tun Said Hall and Chung Hwa Hall relief centres were closed around 5pm this evening.

However, he said the Dewan SMK Taun Gusi centre was still operating with 20 evacuees still remaining. — Bernama