Fire and Rescue Department personnel evacuate flood victims from Kampung Tok Kundor to the relief centre at Sekolah Kebangsaan Bukit Awang in Kota Bharu. — Bernama photo
KOTA BHARU: A total of 7,011 school-children were unable to attend 25 primary and secondary schools in Kelantan on the second day of the 2017 school session due to floods.
The State Education Department said in a statement yesterday the five secondary and 20 primary schools were located in four districts, namely Pasir Mas, Kuala Krai, Tanah Merah and Tumpat.
The closure of the schools affected 5,256 students of 13 schools in Pasir Mas, 588 students of six schools in Kuala Krai, 953 students of five schools in Tanah Merah and 214 students of a school in Tumpat, it said.
The department said 788 teachers and other staff of the schools were also affected by the closure. It said the access roads to the schools were flooded and it was dangerous for the pupils, students and teachers to attempt to go to the schools.
The department said it was monitoring the situation in the flood-affected areas and would make an announcement if the schools could reopen.
Meanwhile, leave for 5,000 policemen in Kelantan has been frozen as a preparation to face floods in the state.
Kelantan police chief Datuk Dr Ab Rahman Ismail said police officers and personnel who were on leave had also been recalled for duty to ensure smooth evacuation of flood victims.
“However, officers and personnel who are attending courses, meetings an on emergency leave will still be allowed to take their leave,” he told reporters after visiting the flood evacuation centre at SK Rantau Panjang here yesterday.
He also visited the Rantau Panjang Police Station which was submerged in 0.3 metre of floodwaters.
Ab Rahman said the state police had also divided its personnel into two teams which would be assigned to help victims and ensure safety during the monsoon season. — Bernama
He also advised victims not to worry to take shelter at flood evacuation centres as the police would always monitor the security level at their residential areas.— Bernama