More than 75,000 people were evacuated as a result of the severe rains that put Malaysian cities under water on Wednesday, according to video posted on social media and confirmed by Reuters. It was predicted that the rain and flooding would continue.
This week’s flooding in five states has claimed at least two lives, and as the number of displaced people rises, officials have put up hundreds of assistance shelters.
As the monsoon season, which should last from October to March, continues, the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) has issued a warning that there will be additional floods in the days to come. Authorities advised people for evacuating if at all feasible.
According to experts, as rainstorms become more intense due to climate change, even inland areas, including Malaysia’s capital city Kuala Lumpur, are becoming more vulnerable to extreme flooding. This includes rapid urbanization, the conversion of forests into settlements, and industrial agriculture.
