Heavy Rains Cause Flooding in Malaysia Resulting in 3 Dead and Thousands Evacuated
Officials have issued a warning that heavy rains in the next six months could be the worst to hit the country in a decade.
Three individuals have lost their lives, and over 90,000 individuals have been evacuated from Malaysia this week due to heavier-than-expected monsoon rains, resulting in severe flooding in certain parts of the nation.
As per the National Disaster Command Center, approximately 94,778 people have been relocated to 527 temporary shelters in nine states across the country.
The states of Kelantan and Terengganu in the northeast, bordering Thailand, were the most severely impacted regions, prompting the mobilization of search and rescue teams for assistance.
Homes and other structures were also affected by the floodwaters.
Periodic floods during the monsoon season between October and March are a common occurrence on the east coast of Peninsula Malaysia, home to 34 million people.
However, officials have cautioned that the current rainfall might be the most severe to hit the country in ten years. In 2014, nearly 250,000 people were displaced, and 21 fatalities occurred due to unprecedented rainfall from December to January.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department has warned of five to seven heavy rainfall episodes over the next six months.
In response to the recent heavy rains, the government has deployed over 82,000 security personnel to flood-prone areas nationwide in readiness.
Rescue boats, four-wheel drive vehicles, and helicopters have also been dispatched, as communicated by the Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
Red Alert Warnings Issued
Hamidi stated that 8,481 temporary evacuation centers nationwide, able to accommodate over 2 million people if required, have been identified by the government.
According to the Meteorological Department, heavy downpours are anticipated in eight states until Saturday.
On Friday, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that Cabinet members are prohibited from taking leave amid the escalating flood crisis, with instructions for officials to remain on duty.
“All ministers have been asked to continue their duties and go down to the ground now,” Anwar informed reporters.
The recent rains have also impacted multiple provinces in southern Thailand, affecting 136,219 households as per Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, with four casualties reported by Thailand’s interior ministry.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
