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Selangor records highest rainfall ever as floods continue

Selangor has recorded over 380mm of rainfall so far, more than twice the state's previous high of 180mm.

Bernama
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A man wades through flood waters at the NKVE highway in Shah Alam today.
A man wades through flood waters at the NKVE highway in Shah Alam today.

The floods in Selangor are due to the continuous downpour since 10am yesterday which caused the highest rainfall ever recorded, Menteri Besar Amirudin Shari says.

He said the Selangor Department of Irrigation and Drainage had informed him that the rainfall has exceeded 380mm.

“This is more than twice the highest recorded rainfall for Selangor, which is around 180mm. The average rainfall is only around 60mm.

“In addition, high tides in affected areas exceeded 4.5m,” he said in a statement after chairing the latest Selangor state disaster management unit meeting today.

Several measures are being taken, especially regarding the safety of flood victims in the most affected areas, he added.

“As of 5pm, 45 relief centres are in operation in the districts of Klang, Petaling, Sepang, Kuala Langat, and Kuala Selangor, housing 3,582 flood evacuees after their residences were flooded.

“All the centres are equipped with necessities, including clothes, food, hand sanitiser, face masks and cubicles for the privacy of affected families,” he said.

In addition, all evacuees will undergo free Covid-19 screenings periodically to avoid any outbreaks, and special isolation centres will cater for evacuees who test positive for the virus.

Amirudin said state government assets, including the Fire and Rescue Department, the police and the armed forces will be mobilised, especially those with vehicles capable of travelling through flood waters, for flood evacuation and the distribution of necessities.

Air Selangor has been ordered to prepare mobile water tankers to be stationed at operating relief centres for the use of evacuees.

“All these efforts will be coordinated by Smart Selangor Operations Centre (SSOC), which will operate around the clock, and headquartered at the State Government Secretariat Office in Shah Alam. Also, Team Selangor and SERVE volunteers will be mobilised to assist in housing evacuees at centres, distributing initial aid and for the clean up process after the floodwaters recede,” he said.

He said a total of 134 water locks had to be closed due to high tides, and could not be reopened safely as it might inundate nearby residential areas.

“A total of 93 pumps are in operation to speed up the flow of water to river drainage systems to mitigate the flooding that is occurring in five districts in Selangor,” he added.

Amirudin said those in need of assistance can contact the Selangor state disaster management unit at 03-50350920.