Malaysia: Typhoon fallout, heavy monsoon rains set to lash the country within days

R.S.N. MURALI, JOASH EE DE SILVA, STEPHANIE LEE, CAVINA LIM, and IVAN LOH The Star 15 Dec 15;

KOTA KINABALU: Even with hundreds of families already displaced by floods in various parts of the country, the Meteorological Depart­ment has warned of more nasty weather.

Its Sabah director Abdul Malek Tusin said the state was most likely to be hit by the tail end of Typhoon Melor, which is now in central Philippines.

The typhoon is expected to bring strong winds between 64kph and 80kph and heavy rains to Sabah’s interiors, west coast areas and Kudat on Thursday and Friday. Waves of up to 3.5m at the Sulu and South China Sea are also expected.

Abdul Malek said the affected areas should brace for flash floods while all sea activities should be halted until the weather improved.

In Kuala Lumpur, the department’s deputy director-general Alui Bahari said heavy monsoon rains accompanied by thunderstorms were expected in Terengganu, Pahang, Johor and west Sarawak.

The department has issued a yellow alert, signalling imminent downpours in these areas within one to three days.

He called on the people to prepare for bad weather.

Alui said that they were constantly monitoring the situation and if it were to get worse, the department would issue an orange or red alert.

Orange signifies rain that lasts for more than a day, with an average rainfall of 0.5mm to 4mm per hour.

Red is the highest warning and signifies heavy rain lasting for a day or more, with an average of 20mm of rainfall per hour.

Alui said heavy rains were expected from a cold surge forming over the South China Sea due to north-east winds.

In Malacca, among those reeling from heavy downpours were 150 families in Alor Gajah.

Sunday’s heavy rain left several areas in waist-high flood after Sungai Pengkalan burst its banks.

The flood-hit areas include Kampung Gadek, Kampung Pengkalan, Taman Seri Bayu and Kampung Panchor.

In Bukit Mertajam, a freak thunderstorm wreaked havoc on at least 17 village houses in Permatang Janggus, Permatang Pauh.

The roofs were blown away in the 5.20pm storm on Sunday while some ceilings and walls were torn apart, causing residents to suffer damage to their homes amounting to tens of thousands of ringgit.

Homemaker Hazmiza Abu Hassan, whose family was among those affected, said she was taking a nap with her three children when her husband shouted for them to get up upon seeing the twister-like winds moving towards their wooden double-storey house.

“Everything happened so fast and before we knew it, all of us were running out of our house because we feared for our safety,” said the 36-year-old mother of four.

In Ipoh, at least 19 families were displaced following a flash flood that hit their village in Parit, Perak Tengah.

A Perak Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said that about 85 people were currently taking shelter at the Nurul Jannah Surau in Parit 6, Layang-Layang Kiri.

“The floodwater was about 0.6m high. Villagers moved to the temporary shelter on Saturday at about 3am,” he said.

Meanwhile, a state National Disaster Council secretariat spokesman said four families with 22 peo­ple, were relocated to SK Changkat Jong following a flood at Kampung Lorong Mesra in Chang­kat Jong, Teluk Intan at 6pm yesterday.


‘No cause for alarm despite incessant rain warnings’
The Star 15 Dec 15;

PETALING JAYA: There is no cause for the people to be alarmed despite warnings of incessant rain over the next two weeks especially in the Klang Valley, says Fire and Rescue Department director-general Datuk Wan Mohd Nor Ibrahim.

He said the department saw a high probability that the higher amount of rainfall would lead to flash floods in many areas.

“Rest assured, we are ready to face any possibility (of floods). However, the public must remain calm in facing such a disaster and contact the authorities for assistance,” he told The Star yesterday.

On the preparations, Wan Mohd Nor said the department had set up a national control room to brace for the floods.

“We have set up operation centres to monitor the flood situation in the country since Nov 20,” he added.

He reminded the public to be wary of flash floods and landslides.

“Be vigilant for any impending danger due to the rain and floods. Listen to public announcements and be ready if the order to move out is issued,” he said.

It was reported that some 14,000 department personnel nationwide are on standby and prepared to be deployed for rescue operations.

The department is also equipped with equipment, including 600 rescue boats and 100 trucks.


Typhoon Melor effect likely to cause flash floods in Sabah
STEPHANIE LEE The Star 14 Dec 15;

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is most likely to be hit by the tail effects of Typhoon Melor as it slammed central Philippines.

The typhoon, which will bring strong winds between 40 and 50 mph and heavy rains in Sabah's interiors, west coast areas and Kudat is expected to hit on Thursday and Friday.

On Monday, state Meteorological Department director Abdul Malek Tusin said that the affected areas should brace for flash floods during these two days.

All sea activities are also advised to be halted until the weather improves as the tail effects of Typhoon Melor is able to cause waves of up to 3.5m at the Sulu and South China Sea.

"We are monitoring the situation," Malek said.

It was reported that more than 700,000 people in the central Philippines fled to safer areas for fear of giant waves, floods or landslides as Typhoon Melor slammed into the archipelago nation Monday.


Over 400 flood victims in Selangor
The Star 14 Dec 15;

SHAH ALAM: The number of flood evacuees in Selangor has increased to 443.

State Fire and Rescue Department assistant director Mohd Sani Harul said 108 families were affected so far, compared with 309 people from 77 families earlier.

In a statement Monday, he said a new relief centre was also opened at Sekolah Kebangsaan Abdul Samad, Kapar in Klang to house 33 victims from seven families.

Currently, eight relief centres were opened in Selangor.

"The relief centre at Surau Kampung Lembah Paya, Sepang recorded the highest number of flood victims with 172 from 42 families followed by Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Meru, Klang Hall (111).

"Other relief centres opened were Surau Ladang Tuan Mee, Kuala Selangor (37 victims), Taman Gemilang in Dengkil (23), Salak Lama Community Centre, Kampung Salak Tengah in Sepang (29), Kampung Baru Salak Tinggi Community Centre in Sepang (21) and the Klang Municipal Council Hall Kampung Kuantan in Klang (17)," he said.