A total of 523 people from 159 families ushered in the new year today at seven flood relief centres in the Kuching and Samarahan divisions.

Their number remained unchanged as at 8am at the centres, three of them in Kuching and four in Samarahan.

Sarawak Department of Civil Defence public relations officer, Siti Huzaimah Ibrahim said in the Kuching Division, 112 evacuees were at the Stapok community hall, 78 at SMK Bako and 60 at SMK Tabuan Jaya.

"In Samarahan, 132 evacuees are at Masjid Lot Kampung Tambirat, 71 at the Samarahan community hall, 62 at the Jaie community hall and eight at SK Haji Bujang Rangawan Putit," she told Bernama.

Siti Huzaimah said the flood operations room was open round the clock and the people could call 082-447000 for information.