Malaysia Experiences One Of The Worst Floods: 14 Death Toll, 51.000 Residents Evacuated

JAKARTA - At least 14 people have been killed and tens of thousands displaced following some of the worst flooding Malaysia has experienced in decades.

Three days of torrential rain over the weekend caused severe flooding in eight states, partially submerging towns and villages.

The government has come under heavy criticism for not issuing timely warnings and being slow to respond. There are fears the death toll will rise sharply as more bodies are found.

As of Monday, an estimated 51.000 people had been evacuated from their homes. Most were from Pahang on the east coast of the Malay peninsula, one of the worst-affected states.

Selangor, the prosperous and densely populated state that surrounds the capital Kuala Lumpur, has also been badly affected.

Images circulating online showed central Kuala Lumpur submerged over the weekend by water levels not seen since the major floods in 1971.

Officials said they were also looking into a possible spike in COVID-19 cases as thousands of people had gathered in makeshift shelters.

The rains had mostly eased on Monday, and some residents returned to their damaged homes as floodwaters receded.

"We only left our clothes, and important documents such as our children's birth certificates. That's all we took with us," said Sazuatu flood victim Remly, as quoted by the BBC on December 21.

Public anger has also been raised over the Malaysian Government's handling of the disaster, with many complaining that the authorities have given little warning and rescue efforts have been too slow.

"What infuriates me is the slow response. The civil defense forces only arrived this morning, three days after (the flooding got worse) and are only now screwing the nuts and bolts of their boat while people are dying in the area," said a local rescue volunteer to the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

Meanwhile, opposition lawmaker Charles Santiago, from one of the worst-hit areas in Klang, called the federal government's response "grossly inadequate" and "weak", as the hashtag #killing kingdom or "Killer Government" went viral on Twitter.

But elsewhere on social media, accounts have also emerged of Malaysians gathering together to help with rescue operations, with some buying equipment such as kayaks and life jackets, while others offering their homes as shelters for those who have been displaced.

"Those with me are random people I meet on Twitter who share the same intention of helping others," Adib Harith told local media outlet The Star. Harith has purchased kayaks and other rescue equipment to collect those trapped in their homes.

"Together, we managed to transport around 200 stranded people."

Please note, parts of Malaysia are prone to flooding, especially during the rainy season from November to February.