Photo by AFP used for illustrative purposes
Three individuals have perished and over 80,000 have been relocated due to flooding in various Malaysian states, according to the government's announcement on Friday. Officials cautioned that the monsoon season could result in the nation's most severe flooding in ten years. Flooding is typical along the east coast of peninsular Malaysia during the monsoon period from October to March. However, this week's heavy rainfall has prompted widespread evacuations, predominantly in the northeastern state of Kelantan, which shares a border with Thailand.
The National Disaster Command Centre's website reported that as of Friday morning, three fatalities had been recorded, and 80,589 people had been evacuated to 467 temporary shelters across seven states. Kelantan and its neighboring state, Terengganu, were the most affected. No additional details regarding the deaths were provided.
Deputy Prime Minister and National Disaster Management Committee chairman Ahmad Zahid Hamidi stated on Thursday that the floods were anticipated to be more severe than those in 2014, when nearly a quarter of a million people were displaced. 'Given the severity of the situation, all parties have been mobilised to ensure the safety and welfare of flood victims,' he was quoted as saying by state news agency Bernama.
The government has deployed over 82,000 security personnel, along with rescue boats, four-wheel drive vehicles, and helicopters, according to Ahmad Zahid. The national railway operator, KTM Berhad, announced on Facebook that it had suspended nine train routes on the east coast due to the floods.
On Wednesday, the Meteorological Department warned that heavy rain across several states was expected to persist until Friday. Last week, it forecasted that a monsoon surge would bring heavy and prolonged rainfall to the peninsula's east coast until December 1.
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