Malaysians return to devastated homes as flood waters recede; more rain expected

TUMPAT, Kelantan – Residents in the Malaysian town of Tumpat returned to submerged homes and shops as deadly flood waters eased in some areas following the worst floods in decades over the weekend, even as more heavy rain was forecast as soon as Dec 3.

Peninsular Malaysia, particularly its north-eastern coast, and southern Thailand have been battered by

torrential rain that fuelled floods,

which killed dozens of people and damaged homes, transport links and thousands of hectares of rice crops.

In Tumpat, a coastal town in Kelantan state near the Thai border, people were able to return to their homes on Dec 2, only to find many had collapsed, with parts of walls, roofs and broken furniture lying scattered in pools of water.

Mr Muhamad Alim, a 56-year-old shopkeeper whose food store was inundated, recalled fast-rising waters in his home and his grandchildren crying as the flood surged on the evening of Nov 30. “Electricity was cut off, and there was no water supply. So, we were stuck, sitting there as if we were in the middle of the sea, surrounded by water,” he said. “You could hear the sound of water rushing, cutting through the silence of the night.”

Mr Alim said he was fortunate that his family was well stocked up on food and was able to remain at home until the waters receded.

Six people have died in Malaysia and over 150,000 were evacuated during the height of the floods last week, government data showed.

Six months’ average of rain falling within five days across the east coast of the Malaysian peninsula last week was beyond expectations, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told Parliament on Dec 3.

He said the high rainfall between Nov 26 and 30 led to flooding that forced a large number of people in Kelantan and Terengganu to be evacuated.

In Thailand, the death toll was 25, and more than 300,000 households were still affected, the Interior Ministry said.

The number of people in temporary shelters in Malaysia fell to just under 95,000 on the morning of Dec 3, though the authorities remain on guard for a second wave of floods this week.

Malaysia’s Meteorological Department expected a wind convergence to begin on Dec 3, potentially bringing heavy showers, with a monsoon surge to follow on Dec 8.

Datuk Seri Anwar said the government is making preparations for the forecast monsoon surge.

He also thanked enforcement agencies, volunteer groups and the local authorities for their efforts throughout the week.

“A total of 80,000 civil servants were involved in flood relief efforts, which comprised the federal and state governments, as well as district authorities,” he said.

“Government-linked companies, the private sector and non-governmental organisations were also together... helping the victims.”

In Thailand, the Meteorological Department warned people in the south of the country to beware of heavy to very heavy rain and possible flash flooding and overflows from Dec 3 to 5. REUTERS