Several dead, dozens of missing people and tens of thousands of people in emergency shelters – unprecedented amounts of rain fell in some parts of Malaysia.
Kuala Lumpur – After days of torrential monsoon rains, parts of Malaysia have suffered severe flooding.
The national news agency Bernama reported on Monday that seven states and the capital Kuala Lumpur are affected. More than 40,000 people should have been brought to safety from the floods in emergency shelters, it said, citing the authorities. There are dozens of people missing and several dead. Exact figures were initially not available.
Numerous cars were washed away and entire houses were swept away by the masses of water. The situation was particularly dire in the Selangor region on the west coast of the Malay Peninsula. There had previously never been recorded amounts of rain fell there. Kuala Lumpur is surrounded by the Selangor region. The armed forces worked together with the police and fire brigade to rescue residents and distribute aid supplies.
Dozens of streets had to be closed. 450 drivers were stranded on a highway that runs from Kuala Lumpur to the city of Karak. They had to be brought to safety by boat. In the monsoon season between October and March Malaysia has frequent heavy downpours and thunderstorms. dpa
