A Person Died Due to Heavy Rain in M’sia Since New Year’s Day

For many, a heavy downpour is at most inconvenient.

You’re forced to cancel your meet-up with your friends, not because it was outdoors but because napping seemed unpreventable.

But in some areas, heavy rains can actually pose a threat to property and even life, as evidenced by the devastating floods in Johor Bahru.

A Person Died Due to Heavy Rain in M’sia Since New Year’s Day

A woman in Johor has died due to the worsening floods in the southern Malaysian state, which has forced the authorities to evacuate over 1,700 residents.

According to The Star, 28 temporary relief centres have been set up in the state to accommodate 1,780 people who have been moved from their homes.

State Health and Environment committee chairman R Vidyananthan said four districts in the state – Kulai, Johor Bahru, Kluang, and Kota Tinggi – have been affected by the floods.

Some residents were seen wading in knee-deep water in the streets, while others found their own homes fully submerged under water.

The woman who died due to the floods lived in a village in central Kluang town.

The 59-year-old victim drowned after falling into a one-metre drain, Kluang Fire and Rescue Department operation commander Shamsul Amri Mohd Shahab said.

The body of the victim, identified as Halijah Majid, was recovered by members of the public inside the drain that was filled with water, he said.

A medical team tried to perform CPR to save the victim but she was pronounced dead at the location.

5 States Warned of Heavy Rain

In response to the floods, the Malaysian Meteorological Department has issued a red alert warning of continuous heavy rainfall occurring at Kulai, Johor Baru, and Kota Tinggi.

And it’s not just residents of Johor who have to worry about the downpour.

The department warned on Saturday of heavy rain in five of the country’s 13 states, namely Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor, and Sabah.

These states typically experience heavy rainfall and strong waves during the monsoon season as they face the South China Sea.

5 Flood Warnings Issued in Singapore

Here in Singapore, heavy rain in some parts of the island also prompted the authorities to issue flash flood warnings at five locations on Friday morning (1 Jan).

PUB advised the public to avoid Jalan Seaview and Mountbatten Road, as water levels in drains and canals in these areas had reached 90%.

They then added Siang Kuang Avenue, Langsat Road / Lorong 105 Changi, and West Coast Road to this list of locations to avoid.

The downpour also brought temperatures down to below 22°C in some parts of the island.

According to the MSS, the cold, wet weather we’ve been experiencing in December 2020 will continue in Jan 2021.

Featured Image: Yusnizam Yusof / Shuttersock.com (Image for illustration purpose only)