HEAVY rainfall in Klang since yesterday has forced 1,011 victims to be evacuated to safety as several areas were inundated by flash floods.

According to reports, as of 7am today, the victims were placed in three temporary evacuation centres; Sekolah Kebangsaan Telok Gong, Masjid As-Islah and Masjid Al-Ubudiah.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Director Norazam Khamis said that the school in Telok Gong, which was the worst hit area by the floods, had recorded the highest number of victims at 681.

“256 victims are housed at Masjid As-Islah, and another 74 at Masjid Al-Ubudiah. The operation is still underway,” he said.

Yesterday, he said, a total of 20 areas around Klang were hit by flash floods following continuous heavy rains, with Telok Gong among the most affected areas.

Norazam said other affected areas were Pulau Indah, Pandamaran, Bandar Botanik, Telok Gadong, Bandar Sultan Suleiman and Bukit Tinggi.

Klang MP Charles Santiago said that last week in Parliament he had asked for an emergency allocation of RM6 million to clear the drains in Klang to avoid flash floods and about RM50 million to repair potholes.

“I also asked JKR (Public Works Department) to renegotiate its present concession agreement of clearing drains once in six months to weekly,” he posted on Twitter.

He said that the requests he had put forth in Parliament were to find a durable solution through workable strategies to alleviate the pain of the people in his constituency as soon as possible.

“Not even a week after, we now have another episode of flooding brought about by 700mm of rainfall.”

Meanwhile, Kuala Selangor PKR chief Juwairiya Zulkifli said with the major floods around Kapar and Klang, the District Disaster Unit has been activated and the temporary evacuation centres opened.

“The temporary evacuation centre is managed by the district disaster operations room which will mobilise all relevant departments and agencies such as Bomba, police, district health office, penghulu and village Head.

“The public can also contact their respective service centres,” she posted on Twitter. – December 18, 2021.