Nearly 40,000 evacuated as northern Malaysia ‘completely paralysed’ by severe floods

The Golok River, bordering Thailand, has reached its highest level since 1997, with the situation exacerbated by La Niña

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A file photo of flooded houses in Tersang village in Rantau Panjang town on December 15, 2022. Photo: dpa/file

Published: 3:18pm, 28 Nov 2024Updated: 3:30pm, 28 Nov 2024

Severe floods have displaced nearly 40,000 people across northern Malaysia, as heavy rains continue to pound the region, swelling the Golok River which acts as the border with Thailand to its highest level since 1997.

The northeast monsoon season, which runs from November to March, regularly floods Peninsular Malaysia. However, this year’s wet season coincides with the La Niña weather phenomenon, which meteorologists warn could intensify rainfall and trigger extreme flooding into next month.

Speaking in parliament, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said that more than 37,000 people in six states have been relocated to some 330 temporary shelters as of Thursday morning.

“Kelantan recorded the highest number of victims at 30,582 people,” he said, adding that the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) is coordinating federal and state resources to ensure the safety and welfare of flood victims.

Two individuals have died from electrocution, prompting the power company to shut off electricity at 17 substations to prevent further fatalities.

A motorist rides a scooter through floodwaters following heavy rain in Thailand’s southern province of Narathiwat on November 27. Photo: AFP

Kelantan, the hardest-hit state, mirrors conditions in southern Thailand’s flood-stricken southernmost provinces of Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat where water levels in some areas have reached rooftops, forcing evacuations.