KUALA TERENGGANU, MALAYSIA - The worsening flood situation in the east coast following a few days of incessant rain resulted in Terengganu evacuating some 2,627 people from their homes while Kelantan mounts a search for its first missing person.

Mohd Mazlan Yajid, 28, had gone swimming at Sungai Banggol Kerian in Kelantan yesterday. His brother Mohd Anuar, 21, said Mohd Mazlan was swept away by strong currents at about 6.30pm.

Pasir Puteh Fire and Rescue officer Kaharuddin Yahya told Bernama the search for Mohd Mazlan which began at 7pm was stopped two hours laters due to darkness and strong currents.

He said the search operation will continue today.

Meanwhile, houses in several low-lying villages in Terengganu were submerged in flood waters while two houses in Kampung La, Besut, were swept away by strong currents yesterday afternoon.

A part of a bridge at Kampung Basung, Hulu Terengganu, caved in due to soil erosion but authorities said the damage was minimal.

A Terengganu Security Council spokesman said the flood victims from Besut, Hulu Terengganu, Setiu and Dungun were still in 24 evacuation centres as at 8pm.

The biggest number of evacuees were from Besut, followed by Setiu and Dungun.

He said Sungai Besut, Sungai Setiu, Sungai Terengganu and Sungai Hulu Terengganu were still above the danger level while several roads were still closed to light vehicles.

Mentri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said, who travelled in a lorry to reach the flood victims, promised to quickly extend assistance to them.

Other roads cordoned off were the 13th kilometre of the Besut-Kam?pung Bukit Payung road; the Pasir Akar to Kampung La road and the Kampung Terubung-Jertih road in Besut; the 13th and 17th kilometres of the Kuala Berang-Sungai Tong trunk road; and the 13th kilometre of the Berang-Telemong road in Hulu Terengganu.

In Kelantan, 1,210 were evacuated in several districts as the Sungai Golok breached the danger level in Rantau Panjang after four days of continuous and heavy rain.

The levels at Jenob, Tanah Merah and several other places were also fast approaching the danger level, and those living along the river banks and in low-lying areas were advised to prepare for floods, according to a state police operations room spokesman.

He added that Sungai Kelantan had also breached the alert level.

The state Drainage and Irrigation Department opened its flood operations room yesterday.

In Penang, various bodies involved in flood relief and rescue operations were on stand-by, although there has been no flood alert in the state yet.

State Fire and Rescue Department director Ahmad Izram Osman said its 760 firemen were on stand-by and maintenance checks have been carried out on rescue boats and other vehicles.

The Pahang Fire and Rescue Department was also put on high alert after incessant rain over the past 48 hours.

Flood-prone rivers were still below the danger level and there were no reports of flooding in low-lying areas.

--The Star/ANN