Floods in Johor force nearly 6,000 to seek refuge in relief centres

Floods in Johor after continuous torrential rain have displaced nearly 6,000 people to temporary relief centres and left at least one dead in the southern Malaysian state. The local authorities warned that the rain will continue pouring until Thursday at least.

After visiting an evacuation centre on Wednesday, Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi said aid agencies have been mobilised and the state was being tested again by the floods. Thousands were also evacuated after

floods hit in January.

Kluang Police Assistant Commissioner Bahrin Mohd Noh identified the dead person as Mr K. Sarathkumar, a man in his 20s who was found in his car at 12.20pm on Wednesday.

“Police carried out a search operation and found the submerged car some five hours later. A check inside the vehicle revealed the victim’s body,” he said.

Residents in the Segamat district took refuge on their home rooftops and posted the images while others tagged politicians on social media, pleading to be rescued.

The small town of Chaah appeared to be badly affected, with an image of its police station’s signboard partially submerged making its rounds on social media.

Some urged caution, asking people to avoid playing in flooded areas and sharing videos of snakes in the flood waters.

Local media reported that the situation was worsening in some areas in Kota Tinggi, with trucks and cars immobilised by flooded roads.

More than 1,500 families were seeking shelter at 54 relief centres, said Johor’s state disaster management committee, and temporary facilities had been set up in stages since 10.30pm on Tuesday.

Some roads were closed due to rising water levels, the committee added, including one that was blocked off by landslides.

Malaysia’s Department of Irrigation and Drainage, which had issued flood warnings on Tuesday, said on Wednesday that water levels of 14 rivers in three states, including Johor, had breached the dangerous mark following uninterrupted rain since Monday night.

The country’s Meteorological Department said continuous rain at a “dangerous” level is expected in Johor and the states of Melaka, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang until Thursday, referring to the third and highest level of its rain warnings.