KUALA KANGSAR, Jan 2 — Sungai Perak, swollen from heavy rains just a few days ago, has begun to look less menacing as it flows by this small town known for its striking Istana.

Waters levels have receded but the damage caused by the area’s worst floods in decades is plain to see in the trails of mud covering just about everything. Cleaning up is going to take a lot of effort.

It is still too early to tot up the cost of the damage as some low lying areas are still inundated but many evacuees are already heading to face the grim task of cleaning up.

Over the last 10 days, more than 2,200 villagers from several villages were evacuated to 17 relief centres all over the town.

Today, only about 1,000 victims remain. Those from areas which escaped the worst of the rising waters areas are able to go home to start cleaning up.

Floods have subsided in many villages except for those in low-lying areas such as  Sayong, according to Kuala Kangsar Flood Relief Operations Centre chief Lt Col (Retired) Aminuddin Ab Karim.

Sayong was the worst hit when the river overflowed last week. More than 560 residents had to be evacuated to the SK Sayong flood relief centre.

"So, today, we are starting to gather volunteers to help the villagers with cleaning up their homes," Aminuddin said.

He has about 200 local volunteers helping out with the massive cleaning up exercises in four main affected villages — Kampung Senggang, Kampung Manda, Kampung Sayong Tebing and Kampung Sayong Lembah.

"The water at these places have subsided so we will help with the cleaning up but there are houses that are still submerged and we will clean those after all the water has subsided," he said.

Other volunteers from more than 80 government agencies and bodies are expected to help out, providing food and clothing to the affected victims.

"We have been receiving a lot of aid in terms of food, clothes and cash for the victims so we have sufficient to provide the victims with food during this period," he said.

Today, a group of about 100 employees from UEM Group Berhad arrived in Kuala Kangsar to help with cleaning up.

"We are expecting more volunteers from other companies and groups to come in in the next few days," he said.