More than 37,000 people have been impacted by severe flooding in six Malaysian states this week, following heavy rains, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim confirmed on Thursday, November 28.
In a statement to parliament, Anwar noted that 322 temporary shelters have been set up across Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Perlis, Johor, and Perak to accommodate those displaced by the floods.
Kelantan, the hardest-hit state located in the northeast, bordering Thailand, has seen 30,582 people from 9,223 families affected by the floods.
The annual monsoon season, which runs from October to March, often brings flooding to Malaysia’s eastern coast, displacing thousands each year.
A post from the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) on Thursday highlighted ongoing rescue operations in Kelantan, with rescue workers wading through knee-high water and evacuating residents by boat.
The Meteorological Department issued a red alert on Wednesday for continuous heavy rain in Kelantan, Pahang, and Terengganu, warning of dangerous downpours expected to continue through Friday.
In response, the National Disaster Management Agency has been instructed to coordinate federal and state agencies to ensure the safety of flood-affected communities throughout the monsoon season.