Inundated: The courtyards of several houses in Kampung Tersang, Rantau Panjang, are flooded after Sungai Golok burst its banks. — Bernama
KOTA BARU: The monsoon floods in Kelantan have claimed its first victim after a toddler was found drowned in a river near his home at Kampung Kenari here.
Kelantan police chief Datuk Muhamad Zaki Harun said that the 18-month-old boy’s remains were sent to Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia in Kubang Kerian.
The Kelantan Fire and Rescue Department, in a statement, said the victim was found at 1.40pm yesterday by a search and rescue team.
Based on reports, the toddler was said to have been playing at the back of his house when he slipped and fell into the river.
The statement added that paramedics confirmed his death at the scene and his remains were handed over to the police.
Several areas in Kelantan have been hit by monsoon floods since early last week.
Meanwhile, the Irrigation and Drainage Department has conducted a study on the Environmentally-Friendly Drainage Master Plan in Kota Baru district to identify the root cause of flash floods in the area.
State public works, infrastructure, water and rural development committee chairman Datuk Dr Izani Husin said the study must first be conducted as a reference for drainage infrastructure planning to find comprehensive short- and long-term solutions to address flash floods.
In addition, the state government, through appointed consultants, has developed an Urban Hydrology and Drainage System for the urban development area of Baru Tunjong and the surrounding regions.
“We are also constructing and improving the existing drains and drainage systems in all catchment areas and ‘invert level’ as certified by the hydrology study and drainage system,” he said in response to a question from Tuan Shaari Mat Yaman (PAS-Bunut Payong) during the Kelantan state assembly sitting yesterday, Bernama reported.
In TERENGGANU, the number of flood evacuees dropped to 621 people from 147 families who were still housed at 12 relief centres in seven districts as of 8am yesterday compared with 628 from 149 families reported on Saturday night.
In KUALA TERENGGANU, a total of 232 people from 61 families were housed in two relief centres, while a relief centre housed 196 people from 43 families in Besut.
In DUNGUN, 62 people from 12 families were seeking shelter in two relief centres while in Marang, 69 people from 18 families were housed in two centres.
In KUALA NERUS, a total of 33 victims from six families were housed in six relief centres; in Setiu, only 14 people from three families were still in three centres and in Kemaman, 15 people from four families were accommodated at Kampung Labohan community hall.
The water levels at the main river stations are normal except at Sungai Nerus in Kampung Bukit and Sungai Setiu at the Permaisuri Bridge, which are at an alert level.
