Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, expects its worst monsoon flooding in a decade, as torrential rains have already claimed three lives and forced the displacement of over 90,000 people. According to the National Disaster Command Center, 94,778 individuals from more than 28,000 families across nine states have sought refuge in 527 temporary shelters. Kelantan, the northeastern state bordering Thailand, is most impacted, with 63,761 residents evacuated.
In response, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has canceled Cabinet ministers' vacations and assigned them to assist in affected areas. "All ministers have been told to go to the ground. Yes, leave has been frozen for them," he emphasized, as reported by Bernama news agency. Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who leads disaster response operations, warned that this year's floods could surpass the devastation of 2014, noting predictions of intensified rainfall next month threatening additional states. A decade ago, 21 people died and more than a quarter-million were displaced.
Preparations to tackle the impending disaster are underway, with Zahid asserting that 83,000 personnel and numerous rescue boats, vehicles, and helicopters stand ready. He highlighted the establishment of 8,481 evacuation centers, capable of accommodating over two million individuals nationwide. Flooding is a recurrent issue in Malaysia during the monsoon season, which runs from November to March; per the Meteorological Department, between five and seven instances of heavy rain are anticipated. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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