Floods hit Malaysia 7 states

Flooding has worsened in Peninsular Malaysia, with around 25,000 people now displaced across 7 states.

Heavy rain and flooding has affected more states in the region over the last 24 hours, including Kedah (34 people displaced), Perak (1,154), Selangor (183), Kelantan (78) and Terengganu (876). Local media report at least 3 fatalities as a result of the floods and heavy rain.

Pahang is currently the worst affected, with 17,903 people displaced as of 05 January. Rivers in the state were above the danger mark in at least 9 locations, including the Pahang river in Jerantut district which stood at 55.84 metres as of 05 January, well above the danger mark of 52 metres.

Pahang Tua in Pekan district in Pahang recorded 357 mm of rain in 24 hours on 03 January, according to figures from Malaysia’s Department of Irrigation and Drainage. Kuantan recorded 306mm and Jambatan Gelugor 290 mm of rain during the same period.

The flood situation appears to have eased in Johor over the last 24 hours, with numbers of displaced falling slightly from over 6,000 on 03 January to 5,498 on 05 January. Although rivers in the state were above alert level in 8 locations, there were no rivers above the danger mark as of 05 January.

Original report, 04 January 2021:

At least 1 person has died and around 9,000 people displaced after flooding in Johor, Pahang and Terengganu states of Malaysia.

Flooding began on 01 January 2021 after a period of heavy rainfall. This is the fourth spate of flooding in the region since November 2020.

Officials reported 6,706 people across 9 districts in Johor had been rescued and evacuated to safety as of 03 January 2021, according to Malaysia’s disaster agency NADMA. The state capital, Johor Bahru, is the worst affected area. The city recorded more than 360 mm of rain in 72 hours to 03 January.

State news agency Bernama reported 1 person died in floods in Johor. Another person is missing feared dead after a vehicle was swept away by flood waters.

In Pahang state, around 2,143 people were in emergency accommodation as of 03 January 2021. The state capital Kuantan has been severely affected. The city recorded more than 280mm of rain in 24 hours to 03 January. Flooding closed a section of the East Coast Expressway (ECE), which connects Kuantan with Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur.

Over 130 people were also evacuated in the state of Terengganu after flooding struck on 03 January 2021.

Public Works Department (JKR) in Malaysia also reported severe damage to roads after flooding in Gua Musang district in southern Kelantan State.