KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 19* — As of 8 PM yesterday, the number of flood victims evacuated to temporary relief centres (PPS) in Kedah and Perlis continues to rise, while Penang has seen a slight decrease. In Kedah, the count of evacuees has surged to 2,882, up from 2,108 the previous afternoon. 

Datuk Zulkhairi Zainol Abidin, director of the Kedah Social Welfare Department (JKM), reported that these victims come from 785 families across six districts: Kubang Pasu, Pendang, Kulim, Pokok Sena, Kuala Muda, and Kota Setar, and have been relocated to 22 relief centres. In Kota Setar alone, the number of evacuees has increased to 1,096 from 279 families, sheltered in five centres that opened yesterday. Pokok Sena has 747 victims from 203 families in two relief centres.

Additionally, Kubang Pasu has 460 evacuees from 143 families in six centres, while Pendang has 409 victims from 100 families in three centres. In Kulim, 108 individuals from 34 families are in three relief centres, and 62 victims from 26 families are sheltered in three centres in Kuala Muda.

The Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS) reported that 10 rivers in Kedah have exceeded danger levels, including Sungai Sedim in Kampung Sedim, Baling, and others like Sungai Kedah at Jambatan Lebuhraya and Sungai Padang Terap in Kepala Batas.

In Perlis, the number of flood victims has risen to 59 from 20 families, compared to 45 victims from 15 families the previous day. Lt Col (PA) Mohd Izaimi Md Daud, director of the Perlis Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM), noted that 26 victims from 12 families are at Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Sena PPS in Kangar, while 33 victims from eight families are at SK Arau PPS, all from Kampung Tok Kandang and Kampung Titi Besi.

The water level at Sungai Arau has been recorded at 21.59 metres, surpassing the alert level.

In Penang, the number of flood victims in 10 relief centres has slightly decreased to 619 individuals from 623 earlier in the day. This figure comprises 170 families across three districts: Seberang Perai Utara (SPU), Seberang Perai Tengah (SPT), and Seberang Perai Selatan (SPS). 

A total of 431 victims from 116 families are in four centres, including SK Padang Menora and SK Lahar Yooi. In the SPT district, four centres accommodate 126 victims from 29 families, while SPS has 62 victims from 25 families in the Dewan MPKK Sanglang and Dewan Serbaguna Sungai Bakap