A drone view reveals a residential area submerged in Rantau Panjang, Malaysia, on Tuesday. REUTERS
Residents in the Malaysian town of Tumpat are gradually returning to their waterlogged homes and shops as floodwaters start to recede following days of relentless rain that brought over a metre of water. However, more rain is forecasted to come. Peninsular Malaysia, especially its northeastern coast, along with southern Thailand, has been hit hard by heavy rains that triggered floods, resulting in numerous fatalities and extensive damage to homes, transport infrastructure, and thousands of acres of rice fields. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated that the rainfall was far beyond what was anticipated, with some areas on the east coast receiving more than six months' worth of rain between November 26 and 30. Tumpat and Tanah Merah, towns near the Thai border in Kelantan state, received approximately 45.9 inches of rain, while Besut town in Terengganu state got 69.3 inches, according to Anwar's parliamentary remarks. "This is an exceptionally high rainfall record... far exceeding expectations," he noted.
Men are seen carrying a freezer as they start the cleanup process after floodwaters recede in Tumpat, Malaysia, on Monday. REUTERS
Some Tumpat residents have started to return to their submerged homes and shops as floodwaters recede, though authorities are still vigilant for a potential second wave of flooding this week. Many residents discovered their homes had collapsed, with walls, roofs, and broken furniture scattered in water-filled ruins. Muhamad Alim, a 56-year-old shopkeeper whose food store was flooded, recounted the rapidly rising waters in his home and his grandchildren's cries as the flood surged on Saturday night. "Electricity was cut off, and there was no water supply. We were stuck, sitting as if in the middle of the sea, surrounded by water," he said. "You could hear the sound of rushing water cutting through the night's silence." Government data shows six people have died in Malaysia, and over 150,000 were evacuated during the peak of the floods, though the number of people in temporary shelters has since dropped to around 85,000 on Tuesday. In Thailand, the death toll stands at 25, with more than 300,000 households still affected, according to the interior ministry. The government plans to provide support payments of 9,000 baht ($262) for each affected household. Malaysia's Meteorological Department anticipates thunderstorms, heavy rain, and strong winds in nine states and two federal territories on Tuesday. Earlier, it had warned of a monsoon surge starting on December 8. In Thailand, the Meteorological Department advised people in the south to be cautious of heavy to very heavy rain and potential flash flooding and overflows from December 3-5.
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