Non-stop rain has caused flooding in five Malaysian states, with the southern state of Johor the worst hit.

Over 31,000 people have been moved to 232 temporary relief centres nationwide as the weather agency predicted continuous heavy downpours until Saturday.

All 10 districts in Johor have been hit by flooding, with more than 29,000 victims from over 7,800 families seeking shelter at 193 temporary flood relief centres as at 4pm on Thursday.

Johor state secretary Azmi Rohani said this was one of the worst floods to have inundated the state in the past few years, attributing it to continuous heavy rain and the high-tide phenomenon.

The district of Segamat was the worst hit, followed by Kluang, Batu Pahat and Kota Tinggi districts.

The small town of Chaah, in Segamat, was entirely submerged in water. Residents say this was the worst flood in 20 years, and many people were trapped in their homes amid rising waters for up to 12 hours before being rescued.

Two elderly residents were reported to have drowned in Segamat in separate incidents.

Police said the victims, both in their 70s and living along, were found in their homes on Wednesday.

The latest incidents bring the total number of deaths due to the floods in Johor to three.

Johor Prince Tunku Idris Iskandar Sultan Ibrahim flew a helicopter to transport food and personal hygiene essentials to 2,100 Chaah residents.

His elder brother, Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, visited flood-hit victims at a relief centre in Kluang on Wednesday night.

Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi said the rain was at such an “extraordinary level” that it caused the Johor River to overflow.

He said the government has prepared RM10 million (S$3 million) to help flood victims in the state, while another RM7.6 million will be spent to upgrade the drainage system in the Kota Tinggi district.

Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi said on Thursday that the flood situation in the state is “quite critical”.

“I hope everyone can be patient, and we pray that the waters will recede quickly, especially since the weather has improved in Segamat,” he said.

Water levels of 18 rivers in Johor breached the dangerous mark, following uninterrupted rain since Monday night, said Tan Sri Azmi.

Pahang is the second-worst affected state, with the authorities reporting on Thursday morning that at least 1,400 residents from five districts had been placed at 25 relief centres.

Zahid visited the flood-hit district of Rompin, Pahang, on Wednesday night, where he instructed the authorities to build a temporary bridge after flood waters washed away a portion of a road leading to a Felda settlement.  

The Fire and Rescue Department has dispatched helicopters and additional rescue boats to assist in flood operations in Johor and Pahang.

The department’s deputy director-general of operations Edwin Galan Teruki said: “The helicopters will be used to rescue flood victims and carry out surveillance at flood-prone areas.”

In Melaka, about 50 people were seeking refuge in three centres, while in Negeri Sembilan, 870 victims were housed in 10 relief centres.

In the East Malaysian state of Sabah, the authorities reported that more than 100 people are seeking shelter at a relief centre.

Continuous rain at “alert” and “severe” levels is expected in Johor and three other states – Pahang, Terengganu and Sarawak – until Saturday, said the Malaysian Meteorological Department in its latest advisory, referring to the first and second of a three-step level of its rain warnings.