Catastrophic Flooding Displaces Over 120,000 in Malaysia

Malaysia is facing a significant natural disaster as heavy rains have led to flooding that has displaced over 122,000 people and resulted in three fatalities. Emergency services are working actively to provide rescue and shelter to those affected.

Heavy rainfall across Malaysia has resulted in catastrophic flooding, displacing more than 122,000 individuals nationwide. According to disaster officials, the deluge has sadly claimed the lives of three people, with concerns that this number may escalate as storm warnings persist. Emergency services have been mobilized in large numbers, actively engaged in rescuing stranded individuals and establishing temporary shelters.

Visual footage reveals extensive damage, with cars and homes submerged beneath waist-deep waters. The most severely impacted area is the north-eastern state of Kelantan, which borders Thailand, accounting for 63% of the total evacuee count. Notably, the current displacement figures exceed those during the catastrophic floods of 2014, one of the deadliest in the country's history.

The National Disaster Management Agency has set up 679 emergency shelters throughout affected regions, which include Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, Perlis, Selangor, Johor, Melaka, and Perak. In response to the disaster, provisions for emergency management have been dispatched to the affected state governments, and the Prime Minister has instructed cabinet members to remain on duty to address the crisis.

In tandem, Thailand is also facing flooding challenges, with six provinces declared disaster zones and over 240,000 households impacted, as the army works to rescue affected individuals. Flooding is not an unusual occurrence during Malaysia’s monsoon season, which begins in November. However, the intensity of this current crisis draws comparisons to 2021's flooding, which tragically led to 14 deaths.