14 Covid patients among those evacuated after flood in Kedah

Fourteen Covid-19 patients with mild symptoms and 45 close contacts undergoing home quarantine in Yan were among those evacuated after their houses were inundated following the upstream rush of water at the waterfall area near Gunung Jerai yesterday.

Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said the Covid-19 patients and close contacts had been placed at the designated relief centre at Sekolah Kebangsaan Teroi.

“Another relief centre was also opened at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Agama for 60 other victims.

“The operations at both relief centres are being monitored by the relevant agencies in compliance with the SOPs,” he said in a statement today.

He said the state government had mobilised all agencies and departments to help the victims of the upstream rush of water incident which occurred around 5.30pm yesterday.

He said the Yan Disaster Operations Control Centre would manage further action to be taken, while local authorities would help with the logistics as well as to clean the affected areas.

He said Syarikat Air Darul Aman would send clean water supply to the affected areas following the closure of the water treatment plant.

Sanusi said three victims were found dead in several locations around the Gunung Jerai as of 1am today, while three more victims were still missing.

The search and rescue operation to find the missing victims resumed at 7am, he said.

On behalf of the state government, he offered condolences to the families of those who had died in the incident and prayed for those still missing to be found safe.

“To the residents who were affected by the incident, we hope they will give priority to their safety and the safety of their families and evacuate to the relief centre if instructed to do so,” he added.