The flood that hit Labis this time has been described by some residents as among the worst in the last few years, and worse than the flood in 2006.
Water levels in Johor rivers up, with three bursting their banks
Austin Camoens and Sharin Shaik The Star 31 Jan 11;
JOHOR BARU: Water levels in Johor rivers are rising dangerously, raising fears of a repeat of the 2006 floods that left the state inundated and with damages worth millions in its wake.
The Meteorological Department warned late Saturday afternoon of heavy rain over Muar, Ledang, Segamat, Kluang, Batu Pahat, Mersing, Kota Tinggi, Kulaijaya, here and in the Pontian areas.
According to the Department of Irrigation and Drainage Malaysia (DID) online river level data, three in Johor burst their banks yesterday. Sungai Muar, Sungai Benut and Sungai Mengkibol overflowed at 5.50pm.
However, if the downpour continued, the department warned that five more rivers – Sungai Bekok, Sungai Lenik, Sungai Senggarang, Sungai Johor and Sungai Plentong – would also overflow today.
DID deputy director-general Datuk KJ Abraham said the department was monitoring the river levels and was prepared for any eventuality.
“Every district has an office that will set up an evacuation centre to help the affected in the event of a flood,” he said.
In Kota Tinggi, four families from Kampung Sungai Berangan were evacuated at 6am yesterday as the water level at Sungai Berangan rose to a dangerous level.
In Pasir Gudang, more than 20 houses were knee-deep in water as the drainage system there could not cope with the increase in water near Taman Kota Puteri.
The Pasir Gudang highway was flooded and caused a massive jam while 100m of the Masai Lama-Kong Kong road, just before the Octville Golf Resort in Seri Alam, was impassable to vehicles.
Public Advised Not To Use Labis-Segamat Road
Bernama 30 Jan 11;
LABIS, Jan 30 (Bernama) -- The public is advised not to use the Labis-Segamat Road, especially the bridge at Kampung Lembah Bakti, Jalan Taman Tenang, here, due to the swift current.
According to a statement from the Johor National Security Council emailed to Bernama Sunday, the flood water current in the area was swift and the road and bridge were therefore not passable to traffic.
Labis, including the Tenang state constituency which was having a by-election today, was hit by flood following incessant rain since early Sunday.
Rain, sometimes heavy interspersed with drizzles, has been pouring since six days ago, causing flooding in other areas of Johor like Segamat, Ayer Hitam and Yong Peng.
The flood that hit Labis this time has been described by some residents as among the worst in the last few years, and worse than the flood in 2006.
-- BERNAMA
KTM Intercity Train Services To East Coast And South Disrupted By Floods
Bernama 30 Jan 11;
KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 30 (Bernama) -- Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) Intercity train services to the East Coast and South have been disrupted by floods and landslide caused by heavy rain.
KTM Berhad in a statement here Sunday said train services involving Senandung Sutera (Singapore-Kuala Lumpur Sentral), Senandung Sutera (Kuala Lumpur Sentral-Singapore), Senandung Timuran (Singapore-Tumpat) and Senandung Timuran (Tumpat-Singapore) have been cancelled.
For services involving Ekspres Wau (Kuala Lumpur Sentral-Tumpat), train services will start from Kuala Lipis to Tumpat and passengers from Kuala Lumpur Sentral to Kuala Lipis and back would be ferried by 13 buses.
The statement added that services to central and northern regions were not affected.
"Services to the East Coast and South had to be cancelled as a precaution to ensure safety of passengers as it would be risky to allow trains to use the tracks when submerged by flood waters," said the statement.
Passengers who bought tickets but were affected by the cancellation can either change their date of travel or reclaim the tickets that they had bought.
The public can contact the KTM services at 1-300-88-5862 for more details.
-- BERNAMA
Johor floods: Two dead and over 37,000 evacuated
Nelson Benjamin The Star 31 Jan 11;
JOHOR BARU: Two people have died and 37,493 were evacuated to 200 centres statewide by 4pm Monday as continuous rain in the past few days flooded many parts of Johor.
Segamat, Johor Baru and Kluang were the worst-hit areas and the bad weather was expected to continue on Tuesday, said Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman on Monday.
All of Segamat is cut off by floodwaters. It is an island.
Police said no one can get in or out of the town as the roads to Muar, Johor Baru and Kuala Lumpur are under water.
Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) has disconnected electricity supply to Segamat. Its substations have been switched off as a safety precaution.
A TNB spokesman said Monday that it was a common procedure during a flood to prevent electrocution. The supply will be restores once the floodwaters ebb to a 'safe level'.
Roads in Labis town, which was flooded Sunday, are clearing but the outskirts are still submerged.
According to the Department of Irrigation and Drainage Malaysia (DID) online river level data, three in Johor burst their banks Sunday. Sungai Muar, Sungai Benut and Sungai Mengkibol overflowed.
With the downpour continuing, the department is closely watching five more rivers – Sungai Simpang Kiri at Sri Medan, Sungai Bekok, Sungai Johor at Rantau Panjang are at a dangerous level.
Meanwhile, Reuters reported that rain-driven floods have disrupted Malaysian oil palm estates from transporting the vegetable oil to refineries and ports in key producing states of Sabah and Johor.
Planters said Monday that as much as 60,000 tonnes of crude palm oil heading to refineries in Sabah on Borneo island have been delayed as floods make it difficult for trucks to get through the estate roads, said two planters from the top producing state.
The transport delay to Malaysia's key palm oil export port of Pasir Gudang in Johor has slowed the transport and loading of cargoes, refiners said, according to Reuters.
Malaysia floods disrupt KTM train services
Channel NewsAsia 30 Jan 11;
SINGAPORE: KTM train services between Singapore and Johor have stopped temporarily due to floods in Malaysia.
This was according to the KTM office in Johor.
MediaCorp understands that train services were disrupted since 3pm on Sunday.
-CNA/wk
