KUALA LUMPUR – Thousands of Selangor flood victims have been evacuated to various relief centres after the country was hit with a massive torrential downpour for three days.
“As of 8am today, 6,242 victims have been placed in 80 temporary evacuation centres in Klang, Kuala Langat, Petaling, Sepang, Kuala Lumpur, and Hulu Langat.
“Current data is and will be updated (continuously),” said the statement from the Menteri Besar’s Office.
In a press conference yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had promised rescue, aid, and assistance to those affected or stranded due to the floods.
The government’s immediate priority, in response to the floods now in several states, is to save lives and evacuate the trapped, Ismail Sabri had said.
The prime minister said the government would also ensure food is provided to flood victims, especially in the Klang Valley, which is the worst-hit region.
“We cannot afford to wait. (Other types of aid) will be discussed later; what is important now is to rescue stranded victims first by moving them to safe ground. We will work out financial aid and other kinds of assistance later.
“We know that when victims are moved out, they don’t have food. The National Disaster Management Agency is working with the Social Welfare Department and other agencies to deliver food,” he told a press conference at the National Disaster Command Centre here last night.
However, numerous social media users are revealing that they remain in dire straits some eight hours after the prime minister’s promise was aired on national television.
One video seen making its rounds shows close to 30 people stuck on the rooftop of a surau in Hulu Langat.
#DaruratBanjir
— 미주 ? (@meejforshort) December 19, 2021
?Surau Al-Munir Taman Sri Nanding, Hulu Langat
dari malam sampai pagi tak dapat lagi bantuan. minta tolong ada OKU, baby semua dah kesejukkan. pic.twitter.com/XTJu1wuqPN
“From morning to night, we still haven’t received assistance. Please help, there’s people with disabilities and babies, and we’re all cold,” the post reads.
Also from Hulu Langat are Khairul and Shamzari who, in a WhatsApp message marked as “forwarded many times”, beg for a boat to ferry their in-laws to safety.
“I am in the hospital,” the message read. “The water is at chest level in their home in Hulu Langat.”
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) said in a statement that extreme continuous heavy rain is expected to occur today in several areas in the capital, Perak, Pahang, and Selangor.
It stated that the areas involved in Perak are Manjung, Kinta, Central Perak, Kampar, Bagan Datuk, Hilir Perak, Batang Padang, and Muallim.
In Pahang, the affected areas are Cameron Highlands, Lipis, Raub, Jerantut, Bentong and Kuantan. In Selangor, they are Sabak Bernam, Kuala Selangor, Hulu Selangor, Klang, Gombak, Petaling, Kuala Langat, and Hulu Langat.
Continuous heavy rain is also expected to occur in Kuala Muda, Kulim, and Bandar Baharu in Kedah; Temerloh, Maran, and Pekan in Pahang; Sepang, Selangor; Putrajaya; and Jelebu in Negri Sembilan.
MetMalaysia also issued a continuous rain alert throughout Perlis; Langkawi, Kubang Pasu, Kota Setar, Pokok Sena, Padang Terap, Yan, Pendang, Sik, and Baling in Kedah; Hulu Perak in Perak; and Tumpat, Pasir Mas, Kota Bharu, Jeli, Tanah Merah, Bachok, Machang, Pasir Puteh and Kuala Krai in Kelantan.
Similar weather conditions are also expected to occur throughout Terengganu and Melaka; Bera and Rompin in Pahang; Seremban, Port Dickson, Kuala Pilah, Rembau, Jempol, and Tampin in Negri Sembilan; as well as Tangkak, Segamat, Muar and Batu Pahat in Johor. – The Vibes, December 19, 2021
