Floods hit Malaysia

Flooding in Malaysia has displaced over 40,000 people according to the country’s disaster agency. The Bernama news agency reports at least 1 fatality with 10 people missing.

The recent spate of flooding began after heavy rainfall from 17 December 2021. Kapar in Klang district of Selangor recorded 316 mm of rain in 24 hours to 18 December 2021. In Pahang state, Pekan recorded 364.5 mm and Kuantan 405 mm during the same period. As of 20 December, rivers were above the danger level in 19 locations in Pahang, 6 locations in Selangor and 4 locations in Kelantan.

In terms of numbers of people affected, the worst-hit state is Selangor where 18,268 have been evacuated to relief camps including 10,670 in Klang District and 3,872 in Petaling district. Pahang state has also been badly hit, with 17,080 people evacuated, mostly in Kuantan, Bentong, Raub and Temerloh districts.

The other affected states are Kelantan (3,956 evacuated); Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur (522); Melaka (710); Negeri Sembilan (355); Perak (242); and Terengganu (303). All those displaced are being housed in 417 relief centres.

Photos and videos shared on social media showed submerged vehicles and houses being swept away. Dozens of roads have been blocked with reports of some people having to sleep in their cars, unable to continue their journeys, including around 450 motorists who were stranded along a stretch of the Kuala Lumpur-Karak Highway.

Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF), the police, the Fire and Rescue Department and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) are still conducting rescue operations.

Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob visited some of the flood-hit areas. He announced financial aid to affected households and said he had “directed all ministries to double up efforts in helping flood operations especially in the severely affected areas as soon as possible”.

The National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) has not yet confirmed any fatalities or missing. However, Malaysian National News Agency Bernama reported 1 person had died in flood waters in Shah Alam, Selangor. Ten people were missing after being swept away by floods in Kuantan and Bentong districts in Pahang