The massive floods that have hit the state since last Sunday have submerged most of the settlements, with water rising above the building roofs.

Bernama, together with the air unit of the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department, went on an aerial survey of the flood situation and found several major towns in the state covered with murky yellowish-brown water.

Sofian Ahmed @ Ibrahim, a pilot with the department’s air unit, said the situation posed a challenge for his team to locate victims affected by the floods.

“We have to focus on the surroundings because the victims will normally find a high and safe place. They will hold on to trees or poles so as not to be swept away.

“Once we detect the victims, we will inform the control centre which will then instruct the teams on the ground to pick up the victims by boat,” he said.

Sofian, assisted by second pilot Faridullahamin Mohd Amin and three flight crew members, flew the AgustaWestland AW139 helicopter with a Bernama reporter on board over Temerloh, Lipis, Rompin and Maran for an aerial view of the flood situation.

According to Soffian, the air unit also conducted mercy flights to bring the sick trapped in the floods to hospital.

“We conduct at least five mercy flights daily, depending on the weather conditions,” he added.

As of last night, there were 26,075 people at 284 flood evacuation centres in nine districts, with Temerloh being the worst affected.

Meanwhile, the flood situation in five states is showing positive signs with the drop in the number of evacuation centres still in operation this morning.

As at 8am today, a total of 43,791 people are still at the flood evacuation centres in Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan, Johor and Perak, from 47,038 people yesterday.