Floods in Malaysia

Gombak river merges with the Klang river. Heavy development has narrowed certain stretches of the river: this contributes to flash floods in Kuala Lumpur, especially after heavy rain.

Floods in Malaysia are regular natural disasters in Malaysia which happen nearly every year during the monsoon season.

Events

• January 1971 - Kuala Lumpur hit by flash floods.
• 2 March 2006 - Shah Alam hit by flash floods.
• 19 December 2006 - Several parts of Johor state including Muar, Johor Bahru, Skudai and Segamat were hit by flash floods.
• 10 January 2007 - Several parts of Johor were hit by flash floods again.
• 10 June 2007 - Kuala Lumpur hit by flash floods, worst since 10 June 2003.
• December 2007 – Several parts of East Coast of Peninsula including Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Johor were hit by flash floods.
• November 2010 - Kedah and Perlis flooded due to heavy rainfall after a tropical depression.
• December 2014 - Northern and Eastern states of Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Perak and Perlis in Malay Peninsula were hit by flash floods including some areas in Sabah.

Causes

• Given Malaysia's geographical location, most floods that occur are a natural result of cyclical monsoons during the local tropical wet season that are characterised by heavy and regular rainfall from roughly October to March.
• Inadequate drainage in many urban areas also enhance the effects of heavy rain, though efforts are underway to resolve this (see below).
• Floods in Southern Johor was believed to be caused by the Gore Effect. This is because Johor is not within the usual monsoon affected zone.

DID flood stations

The floods are caused by heavy rain.

List of flash floods areas in Malaysia

Klang Valley and Selangor

• Along Klang River in Klang Valley
  • Kuala Lumpur city centre near Masjid Jamek
  • Dang Wangi, Kuala Lumpur
• Along Gombak River in Klang Valley
• Along Kerayong River in Kuala Lumpur
  • Sungai Besi near Razak Mansion
• Along Damansara River in Shah Alam
  • From Taman TTDI Jaya, Giant Hypermarket, Shah Alam Stadium until Batu Tiga.

Perak

• Along Kuala Kangsar highway

Penang

• Seberang Jaya Interchange underpass on Butterworth-Kulim Expressway near Aeon Big Seberang Jaya

Kedah

• Along Muda River
• Kepala Batas near Sultan Abdul Halim Airport, Alor Star

Kelantan

• Along Kelantan River in Kelantan
  • Tambatan Diraja, Kuala Krai
  • Tangga Krai, Kuala Krai
• Golok River, Tumpat

Terengganu

• Dungun River
• Terengganu River near Kuala Berang
• Besut River

Pahang

• Pahang River from Temerloh to Pekan town
• Kuantan River in Kuantan

Negeri Sembilan

Gemas

Malacca

• Kesang River

Johor

• Along Sungai Air Molek in Johor Bahru
  • From Johor Bahru Prison, Federal Building (Wisma Persekutuan), Tabung Haji Building, JOTIC, Dewan Jubli Intan, until Court Building near Istana Besar.
• Skudai River in Johor Bahru
• Along Tebrau River in Johor Bahru
  • Kampung Kangkar Tebrau
• Johor River near Kota Tinggi
• Along Sungai Benut from Simpang Renggam to Benut
• Sungai Simpang Kiri and Sungai Simpang Kanan in Batu Pahat
• Along Semberong River in Batu Pahat
• Segamat River near Segamat
• Along Muar River from Segamat to Muar district

Sabah

Jalan Penampang

Sarawak

(Source:Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Malaysia)

External links

• Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) Malaysia
• Malaysian Meteological Services
• Infobanjir @ DID Malaysia
• Latest Malaysian flood info