Over 122,000 Evacuate as Monsoon Floods Ravage Malaysia

Torrential rain and severe flooding have forced more than 122,000 people to flee their homes across Malaysia, marking one of the worst natural disasters in recent years. Disaster officials have confirmed three fatalities so far, warning that the numbers could climb as heavy rainfall and storm warnings persist.

Emergency crews are racing against time, with thousands of personnel deployed for rescue missions. To shelter the displaced, authorities have established 679 emergency facilities nationwide.

Images and videos shared online highlight the scale of the devastation, showing cars and homes engulfed by floodwaters. Residents in the hardest-hit areas have been seen wading through waist-deep water to reach safety.

The northeastern state of Kelantan, bordering Thailand, is the epicenter of the disaster, accounting for 63% of the evacuees. Terengganu, another northeastern state, is also severely impacted. Other states, including Kedah, Perlis, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Johor, Melaka, and Perak, have reported significant damage and displacements.

In response, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s office confirmed the dispatch of additional disaster relief supplies to Kelantan and Terengganu. To maintain focus on the crisis, Anwar has barred cabinet members from taking leave.

This year’s monsoon flooding has already surpassed the displacement figures of the devastating 2014 disaster, one of Malaysia’s worst floods in modern history. The monsoon season, which began in November, is expected to continue intensifying conditions in the coming weeks.

The crisis extends beyond Malaysia’s borders. In neighboring Thailand, six provinces have declared disaster zones as floods affect over 240,000 households. The Thai army has been mobilized to support rescue operations, adding to the regional scale of the disaster.

Flooding during Malaysia’s annual monsoon season is not uncommon, but experts note that the frequency and intensity of such events have increased in recent years. As climate patterns shift, the country faces mounting challenges in managing these disasters.