Attachments
Description of the Event
Date of event
28-11-2024
What happened, where and when?
At the end of November 2024, Malaysia experienced heavy rainfall attributed to the Northeast Monsoon, resulting in escalating flooding across nine states: Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Pahang, Negeri Sembilan, Johor, Perak, Melaka and Perlis. The heavy rain caused significant damage to livelihood, houses and livestock, severely impacting the affected communities.
As of 2 December 2024, the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) reported that approximately 137,410 people have been affected by the ongoing floods across multiple areas in Malaysia. The Deputy Prime Minister, informed the media that this year's flooding is the worst since 2014, with Kelantan and Terengganu being particularly badly affected. Since 27 November, a total of 633 temporary shelter centers have been opened to accommodate 40,922 families displaced by the floods. The disaster has claimed five lives in Kelantan and Terengganu, as confirmed by the Department of Social Welfare (JKM).
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security reported that Malaysia has suffered approximately about CHF 1.79 million in losses due to the destruction of rice/paddy plantation caused by the flood. The significant damage has forced the country to increase reliance on imported rice to meet domestic needs. Overall, the Malaysian agriculture sector faces a total estimated loss of CHF 3.77 million due to the disaster.
On 29 November 2024, three meteorological stations recorded the highest daily rainfall: Besut, Terengganu (566.1 mm), Pasir Puteh, Kelantan (476.3 mm), and Setiu, Terengganu (450.4 mm). Furthermore, a subsequent monsoon surge is forecasted from 6 to 9 December 2024, with the potential for continuous rainfall in the eastern regions of Peninsular Malaysia.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MET Malaysia) has forecasted continued adverse weather conditions, including thunderstorms, heavy rain, and strong winds, across Peninsular Malaysia between 6 to 9 December 2024. These conditions are expected to exacerbate the ongoing flooding, increasing the number of affected individuals and intensifying challenges for emergency response and recovery efforts. Persistent heavy rainfall has already caused river water levels to surpass designated danger thresholds, posing a severe risk of river overflows that could inundate surrounding areas.
This relentless rainfall has caused extensive damage, not only to homes but also to critical infrastructure. Roads, airports, and railways, particularly in the East Coast states, have been severely affected, cutting off intercity connections and complicating relief efforts. The combined impact of floods and landslides underscores the urgent need for enhanced mitigation measures and coordinated response strategies.