Malaysia – 25,000 Evacuate Floods in Terengganu and Kelantan

Floods have forced thousands of people to evacuate their homes in several states of peninsula Malaysia, in particular Terengganu and Kelantan, where levels of at least 5 rivers are above the danger mark.

Parts of Terengganu and Kelantan have been affected by flooding since 31 December, 2016. Over 6,000 people were in evacuation shelters as of 01 January 2017. This figure has since increased to over 25,000, with 12,910 currently displaced in Terengganu and 12,615 in Kelantan as of 04 January 2017

Flooding has blocked roads, hindering transport and cutting off some villages. Authorities have closed schools in the region.

No injuries or fatalities have been reported.

Floods in Terengganu State

In the state of Terengganu, 12,910 people are currently displaced, an increase of around 5,000 from the previous day. There are in 123 evacuation shelters in operation to house those evacuated.

Six districts currently affected by flooding: Hulu Terengganu, which is the worst hit, Besut, Kemaman, Setiu, Dungun and Marang.

The heavy rain has been falling for 5 days (see rainfall figures below). Angga in Besut district recorded more than 1 metre of rain between 31 December to 03 January. At least 14 other locations have recorded more than 500 mm of rain during the same period.

Civil Defence rescue workers have been deployed in the state to conduct search and rescue operations.

Hundreds of people were evacuated in Terengganu just a few weeks ago after flooding in late November, 2016.

Rivers in Terengganu

As of 04 January, the Dungun river at Jambatan Jerangau, Dungun, stood at 12.94 metres, exceeding danger level of 12.5. The Dungun at Kuala Jengai, Dungun district, was above the danger level of 21 metres, standing at 21.58 metres.

The Nerus at Kampung Langkap, Setiu, reached 22.02 as of 04 January, 2017, above danger level of 21.5 metres.

The Telemong at Kuala Ping, Hulu Terengganu, was just above the 20 metre danger mark, standing at 20.33 metres as of 04 January and showing signs of receding.

The Besut river at Jambatan Jerteh and the Marang at Jambatan Pengkalan Berangan were both above warning levels.

Floods in Kelantan State

At least 3 locations in the state have recorded over 500 mm of rain in 4 days to 03 January (see rainfall figures below).

According to the latest report from the state government, flooding is affecting the districts of Bachok, Kota Bharu, Kuala Krai, Machang, Pasir Mas, Pasir Puteh, Tanah Merah and Tumpat.

As many as 12,615 people from 4,298 families are currently evacuated in the state and staying in 65 evacuation centres in the state.

Rivers in Kelantan

Two rivers – the Golok and the Kelantan – are currently above danger levels. The Golok River, which runs along parts of the border between Malaysia and Thailand, has flooded the town of Rantau Panjang, Pasir Mas district, where it currently stands at 10.31 metres, above the 9 metre danger mark.

The Pasir Mas district is by far the worst hit area in the state, with 8,679 people displaced, staying in 35 evacuation centres.

The Golok has also overflowed at Kuala Jambu in Tumpat, where it stands at 3.42 metres, above the 2.5 metre danger level.

The Kelantan river is slightly above the 16 metre danger level at Kusial, Tanah Merah, where it currently stands at 16.43 metres.

Kelantan December 2014 Floods

Kelantan suffered massive floods and major destruction of homes and infrastructure in December 2014. Over 200,000 were forced to evacuate their homes and 21 people died in the floods, which were labelled the worst in the state’s history.

In February 2015, Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, MP for Gua Musang, Kelantan, acknowledged the role of deforestation and uncontrolled land clearing for logging and agricultural activities as one of the main causes of the floods.

Rainfall Figures

The figures below are from the Department of Irrigation and Drainage in Malaysia.

Rainfall in Terengganu

31 December 2016

• Kuala Ping, Hulu Terengganu – 443 mm
• Kg Bukit Diman, Hulu Terengganu – 394 mm
• Jam.Pengkalan.Berangan, Marang – 348 mm
• Kg.Dura, Hulu Terengganu -261 mm
• Kg.Menerong, Hulu Terengganu -257 mm
• Bandar Al Muktafi Billah Shah, Dungun – 251 mm
• Jambatan Jerangau, Dungun – 243 mm
• Jam.Chalok, Setiu – 241 mm
• Kg.Kuala Jengai, Dungun – 238 mm
• Kg.Keruak, Besut – 231 mm
• Sek.Men.Badrul Alam Shah, Kemaman – 223 mm
• Kg.La, Besut – 221 mm
• Pusat Kesihatan, Paka Dungun – 218 mm
• Kg.Besut, Setiu – 217 mm
• Angga, Besut – 214 mm

01 January 2017

• Institut Pertanian Tok Dor, Besut – 168 mm
• Angga, Besut – 142 mm

02 January 2017

• Kg.Keruak, Besut – 240 mm
• Yak Yah, Kemaman – 170 mm
• Angga, Besut – 152 mm
• Kg.La, Besut – 151 mm

03 January, 2017

• Angga, Besut – 498 mm
• Kg.Menerong, Hulu Terengganu – 429 mm
• Kg.La, Besut – 411 mm
• Kg.Besut, Setiu – 390 mm
• Kg.Kuala Jengai, Dungun – 348 mm
• Kg.Keruak, Besut – 312 mm
• Kg Embong, Hulu Terengganu – 279 mm
• Kuala Ping, Hulu Terengganu – 268 mm
• Jambatan Jerangau, Dungun – 265 mm
• Bandar Al Muktafi Billah Shah, Dungun – 241 mm
• Jam.Chalok, Setiu – 239 mm
• JPS Kemaman, Kemaman – 235 mm
• Yak Yah, Kemaman – 220 mm

Rainfall in Kelantan

Over 500 mm of rain fell between 30 December and 03 January in Kampung Jenob, Tanah Merah district (520 mm), Empangan Bukit Kwon, Pasir Mas district (556 mm) and Kusial in Tanah Merah district (625 mm).

31 December 2016

• Dabong, Kuala Krai – 248 mm
• Kampung Tualang, Kuala Krai – 186 mm
• Kampung Laloh, Kuala Krai – 203 mm
• Kuala Krai, Kuala Krai – 231 mm
• Kusial, Tanah Merah 189 mm

01 January 2017

• Kusial, Tanah Merah – 145 mm
• Kampung Jenob, Tanah Merah – 123 mm

02 January 2017

• Kusial Tanah Merah – 131 mm
• Kampung Jenob, Tanah Merah -149 mm
• Kampung Jeli, Jeli – 106 mm
• Empangan Bukit Kwong, Pasir Mas – 139 mm

03 January 2017

• Kusial, Tanah Merah – 150 mm
• Kuala Jambu, Tumpat – 158 mm
• Pasir Puteh, Pasir Puteh – 230 mm
• Rantau Panjang, Pasir Mas – 119 mm
• Air Mulih, Pasir Mas – 242 mm
• Empangan Bukit Kwong, Pasir Mas – 158 mm

Floods in Sabah State

Other areas of Malaysia have also seen heavy rain in the last 24 hours. Floods have struck as many as 10 villages in Sabah state on Borneo island due to heavy rain, according to Bernama news agency.

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