'Once-in-100-years' flood kills 5 and displaces 41,000 people in Malaysia

Seven states and one federal territory were affected.

Dec. 20, 2021

'Once-in-100-years' flood kills 5 and displaces 41,000 people in Malaysia

With heartbreaking images emerging from the destruction left behind by flash floods in Malaysia, it can be extremely difficult to imagine just how much people have lost throughout the unrelenting rain that fell continuously between December 17 and December 19, 2021.

According to the country's Environment and Water Ministry (KASA) secretary-general Zaini Ujang, the floods were a result of a tropical depression that formed over the South China Sea, first detected by the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MET Malaysia) on December 12, 2021.

Unprepared for the unexpected.

IMAGE: Reuters / Bangkok Post

However, no one expected the rain to incur such disastrous outcomes when it made landfall in Peninsular Malaysia, making its entrance through the state of Pahang and on towards the rest of the peninsula.

“It is an exception, because normally during the monsoon season, only states in the East Coast would receive heavy rain but this time, the entire peninsula, especially the central east coast and northern peninsula regions are receiving continuous heavy rain,” said the secretary-general in a press conference on December 19.

IMAGE: AFP / The Jakarta Post

“The annual rainfall in Kuala Lumpur is 2,400 mm and this means yesterday’s (December 18) rainfall has exceeded the average rainfall for a month, it is something beyond expectations and only occurs once every 100 years,” he said.

As rescue efforts continue throughout the worst-hit areas, such as Klang and Shah Alam, people are left wondering how long it will take for everyone to see some semblance of normalcy again, especially considering the intense outrage caused by the government's seemingly lackluster (initial) response to the flooding.

Loss of life and livelihood.

IMAGE: The Associated Press / China Daily

State-run news agency Bernama pegs the total figure of displaced peoples to 41,000 throughout the entire peninsula. More specifically, this is the amount of people that have already been evacuated to shelters and relief centers as of December 19. This figure is expected to rise as rescue efforts continue throughout the week.

Local reports also point to five deaths at the time of writing, three of whom were found in Taman Sri Muda, Shah Alam on December 20.

Shah Alam Chief of Police, Assistant Commissioner Baharudin Mat Taib, says of the five deceased victims, two have been confirmed to be Malaysian nationals, while the identity of the third victim has yet to be determined.

Another fatality was discovered when water levels near a Shah Alam condominium began to subside on the evening of December 19.

“Immediately after being notified of an emergency call involving the body of a man in his 30s, personnel were immediately dispatched to the scene. The deceased is believed to have drowned,” said Baharudin.

IMAGE: Reuters / Al Jazeera

The fifth fatality, a 34-year-old man, was found in Pahang on December 20. He had reportedly been traveling in a car heading towards Pekan from Kuantan. After losing control of the car, his body was retrieved by the local fire and rescue department a day later. The car itself was found submerged 100 meters near the bridge where the accident occurred.

All in all, seven states and one federal territory have been affected by the major floods, including Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Perak, and Kuala Lumpur.