At least 27 dead from severe flooding in Malaysia

Bangkok, Dec 22 (EFE).- Malaysian authorities Wednesday raised to 27 the death toll from recent floods, which were unusually severe due to the climate crisis and displaced more than 66,000 people.

Of the total deaths, 20 have been located in Selangor and another seven in Pahang, both states in the south of the country, while emergency services continue with rescue and aid tasks in affected areas, the Bernama agency reported.

Heavy rains that fell mainly between Friday and Saturday have been described as the worst in the last 100 years, although there are fears they will be repeated in the future due to climate change.

“I would say climate change is a major factor in the heavy rains Friday and Saturday that caused the flooding,” Environment Professor Haliza Abdul Rahman of the University Putra Malaysia told Channel News Asia.

“Floods have been classified as an event that occurs every 100 years, but perhaps many incidents like this will occur again in the coming years,” said Haliza, who added that heavy rainfall has also caused disasters in China, Germany and Turkey between July and August.

“Climate change causes extreme changes in weather patterns, temperatures and rainfall,” said the Malaysian expert.

According to the Disaster Management Agency, more than 66,000 people have been displaced due to floods in Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Melaka, Negri Sembilan and Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced Sunday $ 23 million in aid to repair homes and infrastructure damaged by floods.

More than 66,000 police, soldiers and firefighters participate in emergency and rescue tasks for people trapped by the floods.

Malaysia has two rainy seasons: one caused by the southwest monsoon (May-September) and the other by the northeast monsoon (October-March), the most severe and generally affecting the eastern part of the Malay Peninsula and Borneo. EFE

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