The state disaster management committee secretariat said eight relief centres were opened in Kluang, Kota Tinggi and Segamat from 11am after continuous rain since early this morning.

One hundred and five families are taking shelter at five centres in Segamat, nine families at two centres in Kluang, and six families at one centre in Kota Tinggi, it said in a statement.

The Malaysian meteorological department has issued a danger-level continuous heavy rain warning for the Kluang, Mersing, Kota Tinggi, Kulai and Johor Bahru districts.

It said severe weather conditions were expected in the Pontian, Segamat and Batu Pahat districts, while an alert-level warning was issued for Tangkak and Muar.

Four rivers in Johor recorded dangerous water levels – Sungai Muar (rivermouth of Sungai Gemas) at 19.03m; Sungai Lenik (Ladang Chaah) at 6.18m, Sungai Segamat (Sungai Segamat Kecil) at 38.11m, and Sungai Kahang (Kampung Contoh) at 14m.

Yesterday, the National Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre of the irrigation and drainage department (DID) issued a warning at 5pm stating that Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak and Selangor were at risk of being hit by flash floods within 24 hours.