Heavy rainfall has led to devastating flooding in Malaysia, resulting in four fatalities and the evacuation of approximately 80,000 people across multiple states, as reported by the National Disaster Management Centre on Friday.
In total, over 80,000 individuals have been relocated to 467 temporary shelters spanning seven affected states throughout the week. A search and rescue team has been dispatched to assist with relief operations, particularly in Kelantan, located in the country’s far northeast near the Thailand border, according to a press release from the disaster management center.
The reported fatalities occurred in the states of Kelantan, Terengganu, and Sarawak.
Further heavy rains, which are typical for this season, are anticipated nationwide on Saturday, as indicated by a spokesperson from the meteorological services.
Flooding is a recurring issue in this Southeast Asian nation of 34 million people, primarily attributed to the northeast monsoon that brings significant rainfall from November to March.
Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi cautioned on Thursday that the current floods “are expected to be worse than in 2014,” when more than 100,000 people were displaced from their homes, according to the official news agency Bernama.
