FLASH UPDATE #3 – Effects of Northeast Monsoon in Peninsular Malaysia and Southern Thailand
Country under monitoring: Malaysia and Thailand
MALAYSIA
IMPACTS: As of 21 Dec 2022, a total of 108 areas are flooded and 16 landslides occurred, as well as 7 roads and 3 bridges were reportedly damaged by Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR). As of 21 Dec 2022, 1600 HRS UTC+7, Agensi Pengurusan Bencana (NADMA) Malaysia has reported flooding and landslides in 20 districts in the states of Johor, Kelantan, Pahang, Perak, and Terengganu with a total of 5 persons dead and 20,554 families/72,510 persons displaced in 418 evacuation centres.
Updates on Landslides in Batang Kali, Hulu Selangor, Selangor States: As of 21 Dec 2022, at 1240 HRS UTC+7, a total of 61 persons were rescued alive, 26 found dead, and 7 missing.
RESPONSE: The Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) has been mobilised 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 also mobilised to provide support and evacuate the affected people. The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, has visited the affected areas in Kelantan dan Terengganu. These disasters are still within the capacity of the Government of Malaysia (State Level).
THAILAND
IMPACTS: As of 21 Dec 2022, flooding, landslides, and strong wind are reported in the Southern Region of Thailand. A total of 205,774 families (at about 508K persons) affected, 7 persons dead, 2 injured in Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Phatthalung, Satun, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat Provinces were reported by Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) Thailand. The floods still persist in Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattana, Yala, and Narathiwat as of 21 December, 0600 HRS UTC+7. According to the report, flood depth has been reported to have decreased in those seven affected provinces.
RESPONSE: Evacuation operation are ongoing by relevant agencies/organisations, Government of Thailand has also provided initial assistance to the affected community. Prime Minister of Thailand, General Prayut Chan-o-cha, accompanied by the Minister of Interior, Minister to the Office of the Prime Minister, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, and Director-General of Department of Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), have visited the affected communities in Songkhla Province. These disasters are still within the capacity of the Government of Thailand.
ANTICIPATED RISK
- According to the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC), wetter conditions are expected over parts of the western Maritime Continent, including Peninsular Malaysia and Southern Region of Thailand until 25 Dec 2022.
- According to MetMalaysia, Northeast Monsoon-related storms is still expected to last until 25 Dec, and potentially bringing strong winds, big waves and continues heavy rainfall in eastern parts of peninsula, Sabah, and western parts of Sarawak, Malaysia. MetMalaysia has also issued flood warning for Pahang and Johor States.
- According to TMD, Northeast Monsoon still prevails over the Gulf of Thailand, Southern Region, and Andaman Sea. This situation may cause heavy rains in the Southern Region of Thailand.
THE AHA CENTRE
The AHA Centre will continue to closely 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);
Malaysia: NADMA, NDCC, METMalaysia, JKR;
Thailand: DDPM, TMD;
Verified news media agencies.
