KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 21 — The number of flood victims in Sabah has increased to 1,131 people this afternoon compared to 976 people this morning, while the number of victims in Sarawak dropped to 6,350 people compared to 8,218.

For Kelantan and Perak, the number of evacuees remained the same as that recorded this morning with 255 and 78 people respectively.

In Sabah, Beaufort district officer Shahid Othman said 518 evacuees from 182 families were placed in relief centres in the district.

Membakut assistant district officer Sainudin Ismail said the number of flood victims in Membakut is 319 people from 107 families, while a Civil Defence Department (JPAM) spokesman informed that there were 262 victims from 75 families in Tenom.

According to JPAM, there were 32 victims from three families in Sipitang.

Sungai Padas water level readings was 9.41 metres in Beaufort and 177.75 metres in Tenom, which are still at dangerous levels despite showing a downward trend.

In Sarawak, Kuching still recorded the highest number of evacuees with 3,396 people compared to 4,817 people this morning, while four relief centres were closed bringing the total number of relief centres in Kuching to 22.

A Sarawak National Security Council (NSC) spokesman said Samarahan also showed a significant decrease from 2,079 people this morning to 1,598 this afternoon, with 13 relief centres still open.

However, another relief centre was opened in Mukah, making the total number of victims sheltered in the two relief centres in the division from 78 to 112.

The number of victims in Limbang remain at 1,244.

He said 32 schools in Sarawak were closed so far, while 44 others were being monitored closely as water had begun to rise in surrounding areas.

In Perak, the number of victims remained at 78 people from 19 families, consisting of 44 in Perak Tengah and 34 in Hulu Perak, said a Perak NSC spokesman.

In Kelantan, the number of flood victims remained at 255 people from 62 families in eight relief centres in Kuala Krai.

A Kelantan NSC spokesman said as at 8am today the victims are still being sheltered in school halls, factories and mosques after their houses were damaged or washed away by the floods. The weather was reported to be sunny. — Bernama