JOHOR BARU, Jan 31 — The flood situation in Johor continued to improve today, reducing the number of evacuees housed in temporary shelters from 2,757 people to 619.

Johor state secretary Tan Sri Azmi Rohani said the latest tally now brings the total of those affected to 2,138 people from 602 families.

He added that the decrease also saw the closure of 11 operational temporary flood relief centres (PPS) statewide from 31 to only 22.

Azmi, who is also the State Disaster Management Committee chairman, said Batu Pahat, Mersing, Kota Tinggi and Segamat are only the four districts that are still affected by floods.

“Batu Pahat is still the district with the highest number of flood victims, with the latest numbering 879 people from 246 families that are placed in seven PPS.

“Mersing is second with 823 people from 241 families in six PPS and is followed by Kota Tinggi with 344 people from 87 families in five PPS.

“Segamat has registered an improved situation with only 92 people displaced from 28 families in four PPS,” said Azmi in a statement today.

Citing the Public Works Department, Azmi advised motorists in Mersing that the first stretch of Jalan Tanah Abang is still closed due to water levels that have risen to a height of 1m.

In Kota Tinggi, he said, Jalan Mawai Lama which was inundated with water up to a height of 0.30m and Jalan Kota Tinggi-Rengit which was flooded with water up to a height of 1.9m is open only for heavy vehicles, while Jalan Tanjung Sedili has water up to a height of 8.1m and is open for light vehicles.

“In Kulai, Jalan Sungai Tiram-Ulu Tebrau is still closed and inaccessible to all vehicles due to landslides," he said.

Azmi said the Department of Irrigation and Drainage has also issued warnings on the rising river water levels in the state.

Based on the department’s advisory, he said Sungai Endau in Mersing has recorded a reading of 2.38m, passing the danger mark of 2.20m.

“Sungai Muar in Buloh Kasap, Segamat has reached a warning level with a reading of 8.87m.

“Sungai Bekok and Sungai Sembrong in Baru Pahat are also at warning levels which have now reached 11.01m and 18.56m respectively,” he said.