JOHOR BARU: The Civil Defence Force (CDF) denies claims that the Sungai Sembrong Dam gates in Batu Pahat were opened following flash floods that occurred in Sri Gading.
Johor Civil Defence director Asst Comm (PA) Kamal Mokhtar said that so far, Civil Defence had never issued any statement on the matter although a viral WhatsApp message claims otherwise.
“A WhatsApp message claims said Civil Defence had informed that the dam gate had been opened due to flash floods in Batu Pahat but we have not received any such information.
“We deny that it happened. The viral message is fake,” he said when contacted by Bernama on Wednesday (Sept 15) night.
Earlier, a viral message on WhatsApp claimed that Civil Defence had opened the gates of the Sungai Sembrong Dam following flash floods due to heavy rain since Wednesday morning and high tide.
Meanwhile, the Batu Pahat District Disaster Management Committee secretariat said that 163 residents from 38 families in Taman Sri Panchor, Kampung Sengkuang, Kampung Baru Sri Gading, Pekan Seri Gading and Kampung Seri Tanjung in Batu Pahat had been evacuated to a relief centre in SMK Seri Gading.
According to the statement, the centre was opened and started operating at 1pm Wednesday to house all the victims.
“The number of victims, 163 people from 38 families, is the official number of residents involved in the flash flood as of 8pm tonight.
“The flash floods in five locations occurred due to heavy rain from 1.30am to 4am Wednesday and the high tide,” the statement read.
Earlier, Batu Pahat OCPD Asst Comm Ismail Dollah reportedly said that an estimated 600 residents in several areas of Sri Gading were relocated to the relief centre at SMK Sri Gading after their homes were flooded early this morning. – Bernama