30-11-2024 (KUALA LUMPUR) More than 100,000 Malaysians have been forced to abandon their homes as devastating monsoon floods sweep across nine states, with authorities warning this could become the worst flooding event in ten years.
The National Disaster Command Centre reports three fatalities and confirms that 103,226 people are currently sheltering in 590 emergency relief centres. Kelantan bears the brunt of the crisis, housing 69,050 evacuees, while Terengganu accommodates 24,540 displaced residents. The remaining evacuees are distributed across Kedah, Negeri Sembilan, Perlis, Selangor, Johor, Melaka, and Perak.
Critical water levels have been recorded in several major waterways, with Kelantan’s Sungai Lanas in Jeli reaching an alarming 29.74 metres and Sungai Kelantan at Tambatan D’Raja rising to 5.53 metres, both exceeding designated danger thresholds.
The situation has severely impacted infrastructure and essential services. In Kedah, seven water treatment facilities have suspended operations due to critically high intake levels, prompting authorities to deploy water tankers to affected districts including Padang Terap, Pendang, Kuala Muda, Sik, and Baling.
Air travel has also been disrupted, with Alor Setar airport forced to temporarily close its runway due to flooding, leaving numerous passengers stranded though the terminal building remains operational.
Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has expressed grave concerns about the current situation, drawing comparisons to the catastrophic 2014 floods that claimed 21 lives and displaced over 500,000 people, primarily in Kelantan.
The meteorological department continues to monitor the situation closely as emergency services work round the clock to assist affected communities.
