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Title : Malaysia cancels back-to-school for thousands due to floods
By :
Date : 05 January 2009 1224 hrs (SST)
URL : http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/400268/1/.html

KUALA LUMPUR: Floods in central and northern Malaysia have triggered the evacuation of more than 5,000 people, and forced tens of thousands of children to miss the first day of school, state media said Monday.

In central Pahang state, which is worst affected, the number of evacuees rose to 3,776 despite floodwaters receding in some districts, police told the official Bernama news agency.

In northern Kelantan, the number of displaced rose to 783 and several major roads were under water and closed to traffic.

Some 30,000 students in the state were unable to get to their schools for the first day of the academic year.

"The Kelantan education department ordered all schools affected by the floods to close to prevent any mishaps," State Education Department director Mohd Ghazali Abdul Rahman told The Star newspaper.

In neighbouring Terengganu state, there were 445 evacuees being sheltered at relief centres.

- AFP/yb



Malaysia floods force evacuation of thousands


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