2 killed, 60,000 Displaced In Worst Flooding In A Century In Malaysia - AFP

[hatrack]

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Heavy rains and overflowing rivers have flooded hundreds of towns and villages in southern Malaysia, killing two people and displacing more than 60,000, officials said Thursday. The two deaths were the first since Sunday, when torrential downpours caused rivers and dams to overflow in the states of Johor, Malacca, Pahang and Negeri Sembilan. The floods have destroyed crops and cut off roads, power lines and rail services.

Two men were found dead Thursday by an army rescue team in Johor, said Che Moin Umar, head of disaster management at the Civil Defense Department. He had no other details about the deaths and couldn't say if anyone has been injured. The Drainage and Irrigation Department has described the flooding as the worst in Johor in a century.

Johor opened nearly 300 flood relief centers on high ground to house 53,000 residents evacuated from their homes across all eight districts, Che Moin said. In the other three states, more than 7,500 people were forced to leave their homes. Che Moin said the government will allocate money to help flood victims, although the amount has yet to be announced. Last December, 100 million ringgit (US$29.2 million) in aid was given to help victims of the monsoon in northern Malaysia.

EDIT

On Tuesday, Singapore recorded at 366 millimeters (14.41 inches) of rain in 24 hours -- its third highest rainfall in 75 years, according to local media. The downpour caused floods and small mudslides in the north and center of the island, but no casualties were reported.

EDIT

http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/international/news/20061221p2g00m0in042000c.html