FLASH UPDATE #1 – Flooding and Landslides
Country under monitoring: Malaysia
OVERVIEW: In the past week, intense rainfall have caused a series of floods in several states of Malaysia. On 28 Feb 2023 at 1200 HRS UTC+7, Jabatan Meteorologi Malaysia (MET Malaysia) issued Danger warning (expected to result to continuous heavy rain with rainfall exceeding 240 mm/day) in Johor (Kluang, Mersing, Kulai, Kota Tinggi, and Johor Bahru), and Severe warning (continuous heavy rain) in Pahang (Pekan and Rompin) and Johor (Tangkak, Segamat, Muar, Batu Pahat, and Pontian), and Alert (continues rain warning) in Perak, Terengganu, Pahang, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, and Sarawak.
IMPACTS: According to the 7 Days rainfall accumulation from ASMC & ASEAN DMRS, heavy rainfall is observed between 26 Feb to 4 Mar 2023 in Peninsular Malaysia and western parts of Sarawak, Malaysia. As of 6 Mar 2023, at 0900 HRS UTC+7, a total of 98 flooded areas, 21 landslides, and 10 roads, and 1 bridges were reportedly damaged by Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR). As of 6 Mar 2023, at 1500 HRS UTC+7, NADMA Malaysia has reported a total of 13,336 families/46,630 persons still displaced in 250 evacuation centres with details as follows:
- Johor: 12,389 families/43,270 persons displaced in 226 evacuation centres over Batu Pahat, Johor Bahru, Kluang, Kota Tinggi, Mersing, Muar, Pontian, Segamat, and Tangkak;
- Melaka: 159 families/589 persons displaced in 5 evacuation centres over Alor Gajah and Jasin;
- Pahang: 788 families/2,771 persons displaced in 19 evacuation centres over Maran, Rompin, and Temerloh;
- Sabah, Sarawak, Negeri Sembilan, and Selangor: – .
RESPONSE: Government of Malaysia deployed SMART (Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team) to respond to the disasters. Personnel from the Malaysian Armed Forces, Royal Malaysian Police, Fire and Rescue Department of Malaysia, Malaysia Civil Defence Force and other agencies were mobilised to provide support and evacuation for the affected people. The Prime Minister of Malaysia, has visited the affected areas in Johor. These disasters are still within the capacity of the Government of Malaysia to response.
ANTICIPATED RISK: On 5 March 23, at 0020 HRS UTC+7, MET Malaysia predicted that continues rains are expected to occur until 6 March 2023. This situation has the potential to cause continuous rain in the east and south of the Peninsula as well as west and central Sarawak. According to ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC), wetter conditions are expected over much of the western Maritime Continent in the period of 6 – 12 March, and much of the northeastern Maritime Continent in the period of 13 – 19 March, these areas includes Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak).
The AHA Centre will continue to monitor for further developments and issue necessary updates.
DATA SOURCES
ASEAN Disaster Monitoring & Response System (DMRS), ASEAN Disaster Information Network (ADINet); Pacific Disaster Center (PDC Global); ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC); Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC);
Malaysia: NADMA, METMalaysia, JKR;
Verified news media agencies.
