Janet in Current Affairs On December 21, 2021, 11:23 am

M’sia Records 14 Deaths Nationwide From Floods; Over 66,000 Victims Were Evacuated

Over 66,000 flood victims reported in eight states

The weekend before Christmas and the New Year’s saw devastating flash floods in eight states that left many displaced. As of 21st December 2021, Malaysia recorded a total of 66,939 flood victims with 14 casualties nationwide due to the floods that have since started to recede in affected areas.

As such, the government has allocated RM1,000 in financial aid for flood victims.

66,939 victims and 14 deaths recorded nationwide

According to a report from Bernama on 21st December, a total of 66,939 victims have been seeking refuge from the floods at 466 flood relief centres (PPS) in eight states nationwide.

This includes residents in the states of Selangor, Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Perak and Kuala Lumpur.

Previously, on 20th December, a total of 41,418 flood victims from 8,384 households was reported nationwide.

The rainfall experienced in these states which contributed to the floods saw “one month’s average of downpour in just one day”, as revealed by the Environment and Water Ministry.

Updates on victims in affected areas as of 21st December, 4AM, by the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA).
Image credit: Agensi Pengurusan Bencana Negara, Jabatan Perdana Menteri

Unfortunately, a total of 14 individuals have tragically perished in the floods. In the same Bernama report, eight casualties have been recorded in Selangor and another six in Pahang.

In Selangor, four deaths were reported in Shah Alam; two in Kajang; one in Sungai Buloh; and one in Sepang.

Meanwhile, the bodies of four victims – including three women and one man – were found by a search and rescue team on 21st December after they were previously reported missing in mud floods seen in Telemong, Bentong in Pahang.

The victims were believed to have drowned, and were found after the flood waters began to recede in the devastated areas.

Image credit: Agensi Pengurusan Bencana Negara, Jabatan Perdana Menteri

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced on his verified Facebook account that the government would assist affected households with RM1,000 in expedited financial aid. The aid will given to each head of household, even if they had not been relocated to a PPS.

A total of RM100 million will be set aside to repair houses and infrastructure hit hard by the floods as well.

Likewise, the Home Ministry will offer free replacements for personal documents, such as ICs and passports, that were destroyed or lost as a result of the floods. Banks in Malaysia, including Maybank and Ambank, will be rolling out flood relief assistance for affected individuals, SME, and non-retail customers too.

Floods in Malaysia displaces over 66,000 individuals

The recent floods in several states in Malaysia were devastating to witness. Our heart goes out to the affected victims and the families of those who lost their lives in the flood. Fellow Malaysians are urged to donate as they can to assist flood victims via local NGOs and groups, such as MyCARE and Global Peace Mission (GPM) Malaysia, to name a few.