Malaysia floods force thousands to evacuate

Rainfall and floods in Malaysia this past weekend left some of its towns inundated. Five people have died till now and authorities have set up hundreds of relief shelters with the number of displaced people growing.

More than 31,000 people have fled their homes in Kelantan while more than 39,000 residents have been evacuated to temporary shelters in neighbouring Terengganu after flooding began over the weekend.

Additional evacuations were conducted in Pahang, Johor and Perak. Fields and streets are flooded with water levels reaching almost 10 feet, damaging private property and making rivers breach banks.

Disaster forces were seen navigating waist-deep waters to rescue victims. Some 400 million Malaysian ringgit ($90 million) have been allocated till now to the National Disaster Management Agency to deal with the emergency. The Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) has predicted more floods in the ongoing monsoon season (October-March).

In the same month last year, the country was battered by its worst floods in history when more than 50 people died and thousands more were displaced.

Rapid urbanisation, industrial agriculture and conversion of forests into settlements have made townships increasingly vulnerable to extreme floods as rain storms become more erratic due to climate change. Even inland areas like the capital city Kuala Lumpur, are not saved from catastrophes.

Subscribe to Daily Newsletter :

SUPPORT US

We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.