Floods in Malaysia force more than 70,000 to evacuate
Malaysian cities have been inundated with muddy water after torrential rains, footage shared on social media and verified by Reuters showed on Wednesday, forcing more than 72,000 people to evacuate as rain and flooding are expected to continue.
At least two people have died in floods in five states this week, and authorities have set up hundreds of temporary shelters as the number of displaced people grows.
At least two people have died as a result of the flooding.
Authorities have set up hundreds of emergency shelters as more and more people lose their homes.
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Rapid urbanization and the conversion of forests to settlements have made inland areas increasingly vulnerable to extreme flooding.
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Videos on social media showed brown water pouring into fields and roads, submerging cars and bursting rivers. Rescuers waded in waist-deep water to rescue victims.
The Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) has warned of more flooding in the coming days as the monsoon season lasts from October to March. Authorities urged residents to evacuate if possible.
Experts have said rapid urbanization and conversion of forests to settlements and industrial agriculture have made even inland areas, including the capital Kuala Lumpur, increasingly vulnerable to extreme flooding as rainstorms increase due to climate change.
https://nypost.com/2022/12/21/malaysia-floods-force-more-than-70000-to-evacuate/ Floods in Malaysia force more than 70,000 to evacuate
