Flooding worsens in four Malaysian states; Johor still worst hit

Flooding in four Malaysian states has worsened, with four deaths reported and over 36,000 people evacuated to 256 temporary relief centres, and there were no signs that there will be any let-up in the current wet weather.

Police said 369 of their officers have been deployed to assist in relief operations in states affected by the floods.

Johor continues to be the worst-hit state

with all 10 districts still flooded. The number of evacuees has risen to nearly 32,900 from 9,300 families, housed in 219 relief centres, as at 4pm on Friday.

Segamat is the worst-hit district in Johor, followed by Kluang, Batu Pahat, Kota Tinggi and Muar.

National news agency Bernama reported that Segamat has turned into “small islands” after several areas were submerged in flood waters, with the authorities saying that almost 80 per cent of residential neighbourhoods in the district were flooded.

Water levels of 14 rivers in Johor breached the dangerous mark, following uninterrupted rain since Monday night.

Additionally, waters in four dams in the state have exceeded their normal levels, with state executive council member Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh saying they are at “danger” levels. Water is being released from the dams, he said.

The authorities have advised residents in Kota Tinggi town to evacuate to higher ground as the area is expected to be hit hard by floods.

Kota Tinggi was hit by a massive flood 17 years ago that saw the district submerged in flood waters for two weeks and cut off from neighbouring towns.

“We see the trend of rising waters in the town because it is located near the Johor river,” said Johor Zone 2 fire and rescue department official Tahrin Saat on Friday, adding that the continuous torrential rain has resulted in strong river currents.

The situation in Johor is so dire that Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi has appealed for extra manpower from the federal government and other states that are not affected by floods.

He said that with the number of evacuees set to rise, there were not enough people on the ground to provide assistance. Those who are helping out have been working round the clock and are exhausted from lack of rest and sleep.

“I appeal for additional assistance in terms of machinery or personnel from other states unaffected by floods,” he said.

The floods have resulted in three deaths in the state – two in Segamat and one in Kluang.

The fatalities in Segamat have been identified as Ms Lee Amo Yee, 78, and Mr Tan Sue Ke, 74, who were found trapped inside their homes by their family members on Thursday.

On Wednesday, another man was found dead inside a car, believed to have been swept away by flood waters in Kluang.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Friday said he has approved a RM50 million (S$15 million) allocation for Johor to repair infrastructure damaged by the flood.

This is on top of the RM10 million allocation announced by Datuk Seri Anwar’s deputy Zahid Hamidi a day earlier to help flood victims in the state. Thanking Zahid, Datuk Onn said he was grateful for the immediate allocation.

“This will ensure all temporary relief centres have an adequate supply of essential items as the number of victims displaced due to the floods is increasing,” he said in a Facebook post earlier on Friday.

The neighbouring state of Pahang is the second-worst affected state, recording about 2,200 victims placed at 23 relief centres.

The state also recorded its first fatality, where a senior citizen was found drowned in his car at a Federal Land Development Authority settlement in Rompin after flood waters receded. 

Separately, a 23-year-old woman was feared drowned after being swept away by flood waters while crossing a bridge at her village in Muadzam Shah.

In Negeri Sembilan, the number of victims has decreased from 1,000 to 870 as at 4pm on Friday, while in Melaka, the number of victims has increased to 160 from 110 previously.

In Sarawak, the number of victims fell to 38, while in Sabah, the authorities have closed its sole relief centre as floods receded and the victims went home.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department in its advisory has said that continuous rain at “alert” and “severe” levels is expected in Johor and three other states – Pahang, Terengganu and Sarawak – until Saturday.