3 Dead, Thousands Evacuated as Heavy Rains Unleash Flooding in Malaysia

Residents walk on a flooded street after heavy monsoon rains in downtown Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia, on Nov. 29, 2024. Loo Kok Chong/AP Photo

Three people have died and more than 90,000 have been evacuated from Malaysia this week after the country was hit with heavier-than-expected monsoon rains, leading to severe flooding in some areas of the country.

Approximately 94,778 people have been evacuated to 527 temporary shelters across nine states in the nation, according to the National Disaster Command Center.

The northeastern state of Kelantan, which borders Thailand, and neighboring Terengganu were the worst hit, officials said. Search and rescue teams have been mobilized to aid rescue operations in those states.

Video footage and images posted on social media showed rivers overflowing and people wading through flooded streets where vehicles were submerged.

Homes and other buildings were also inundated by flood waters.

Floods during the monsoon period between October and March are common on the east coast of Peninsula Malaysia, the western part of the Southeast Asian nation home to 34 million people.

However, officials are warning that the latest rainfall may be the worst to hit the country in a decade. In 2014, nearly a quarter of a million people were forced from their homes and 21 people were killed owing to unprecedented rainfall that fell from December until January.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department warned this week that there could be between five and seven episodes of heavy rainfall over the next six months.

Amid the latest heavy rains, the government has deployed more than 82,000 security personnel to flood-prone areas throughout the country in preparation.

Rescue boats, four-wheel drive vehicles, and helicopters have also been deployed, Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said this week.

Red Alert Warnings Issued

Hamidi also said the government has identified 8,481 temporary evacuation centers nationwide that can accommodate more than 2 million people if necessary.

“Given the severity of the situation, all parties have been mobilized to ensure the safety and welfare of flood victims,” he was quoted as saying by the national Bernama news agency.

According to the Meteorological Department, heavy showers—which have already lasted several days—are expected in eight states until Saturday.

Dangerous levels of rain are also forecast for the entire state of Terengganu and several districts in Kelantan and Pahang, where red alert warnings have been issued, while severe alert level continuous rain warnings have been issued for several states in Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah.

On Friday, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he had barred his Cabinet members from going on leave amid the growing flood disaster, with officials instead instructed to continue their duties.

“All ministers have been asked to continue their duties and go down to the ground now,” Anwar told reporters.

The recent rains have also impacted several provinces in southern Thailand, according to Thailand’s Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, impacting 136,219 households.

According to Thailand’s interior ministry, four people have also died in the rains.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.