Malaysian Floods, 3 Killed, Tens Of Thousands Of People Refuge

JAKARTA - Three people were killed and more than 80,000 people evacuated due to flooding in several Malaysian states. Authorities warned this rainy season could cause the country's worst flooding in a decade.

Floods are common on the east coast of the Malaysian peninsula during the rainy season between October and March, but heavy rains this week have led to mass evacuations, mostly in the northeastern part of Kelantan state bordering Thailand.

As reported by Reuters, the National Disaster Command Center website stated that as of Friday morning, November 29, three people were killed and 80,589 people had been evacuated to 467 temporary shelters in seven states, with Kelantan and Tengganu's neighboring countries being the most severely affected.

Meanwhile Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the National Committee for Disaster Management Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said on Thursday floods were expected to be more severe than in 2014, when nearly a quarter of a million people were forced to flee their homes.

"Given the severity of the situation, all parties have been deployed to ensure the safety and welfare of flood victims," he said as quoted by the state news agency Named.

The government deployed more than 82,000 security personnel and rescue boats, four-wheeled vehicles and helicopters.

National train operator KTM Berhad suspended nine train routes on the east coast due to flooding.

On Wednesday, the Meteorological Department warned heavy rains in some states are expected to last until Friday.

Last week, it was stated that the monsoon wave was expected to bring heavy and prolonged rain on the eastern part of the peninsula until December 1.