A girl stands on a mailbox outside her house in Malaysia's northeastern town of Rantau Panjang, yesterday.
Rantau Panjang: Thousands of people remained stranded in relief centres yesterday as northeast Malaysia struggled to recover from severe flooding and residents raised fears of looting.
But the number of people displaced in the states of Kelantan and Terengganu fell to about 18,300 from almost 23,000 on Wednesday.
In badly hit Rantau Panjang, a Kelantan town bordering Thailand, more than 300 residents sought shelter at a crowded relief centre.
Evacuees said food was sufficient but there were hygiene concerns.
Dustbins were overflowing with garbage while families with young children were squeezed into small classrooms. Looking glum, flood victims said they were worried about future supplies of clean drinking water, loss of income and thieves looting their homes.
Mohamad Nawi Che Mamat, 50, said he had to wade through floodwaters daily from the relief centre to check on his home.
Others who had chosen to remain in their flood-hit homes also expressed frustration, saying they have yet to receive aid from the goverment.
