The strong floods in Johor Bahru are showing no signs of abating.
The floods in the southern Malaysian state, caused by continuous heavy rains, has already forced the authorities to evacuate over 1,700 residents.
28 temporary relief centres have been set up in the state to accommodate 1,780 people who have been relocated from their homes.
Some residents were seen wading in knee-deep water in the streets, while others found their own homes fully submerged under water.
The floods are so dangerous it has already claimed one life, and has now led to the disappearance of a man who heroically tried to save his wife.
Malaysian Tried Saving Wife from Flood But Was Swept Away in Car
A 28-year-old Malaysian man was swept away in his car by the powerful floods in Johor after he broke a window to free his wife.
The authorities have launched a search and rescue operation to find him, according to The Star.
At around 5.30pm on Saturday (2 Jan) at Batu 18 Jalan Batu Pahat-Mersing near Kahang, Md Rajihan Junaidi and his wife tried to cross the road in their Proton Waja, but were pushed to the right side of the road by a strong current.
Rajihan then broke a window to free his wife, who was later rescued by members of the public.
Unfortunately, Rajihan couldn’t get out in time as the car was swept away by the currents.
His current whereabouts are unknown.
Family of Four Stranded for 11 Hours as Road Was Underwater
In another incident, a family of four on their way back to Muar were stranded for 11 hours along Jalan Kluang-Mersing, Kahang before they were rescued.
The couple and their two toddlers were heading back to their hometown, but when they reached Batu 17, Jalan Kluang-Mersing at around 3pm on Saturday, they discovered that the road was fully submerged underwater.
So, the family, along with 15 other vehicles, had to wait in their cars for help, which only came at 2am the next day.
However, not everyone was as lucky.
Woman Drowned Due to Floods
On Sunday (3 Jan), Johor recorded its first death due to the floods, after a 59-year-old woman who lived in a village in central Kluang town died.
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The victim drowned after falling into a one-metre drain, according to the authorities.
The body of the victim, identified as Halijah Majid, was recovered by members of the public inside the drain that was filled with water.
A medical team tried to perform CPR to save the victim but she was pronounced dead at the location.
In response to the floods, the Malaysian Meteorological Department warned of heavy rain in five of the country’s 13 states, namely Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor, and Sabah.
These states typically experience heavy rainfall and strong waves during the monsoon season as they face the South China Sea.
Why Rains are Getting Heavier
Meanwhile, in Singapore, the rainfall on Saturday was among the highest recorded in the past 39 years.
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The prolonged wet spell has prompted the authorities to issue flash flood warnings and even caused two mini landslides.
But why are rains getting heavier?
Climate change, of course.
According to Nature, as global temperatures rise, much more rain will fall from the skies.
This is for the simple reason that if the atmosphere is warmer, it will hold more moisture, which in turn will lead to wetter storms.
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One of the reasons governments around the globe are taking drastic steps to combat climate change is because it’s already having a huge impact on our environment.
Extreme rains alone can lead to flooding and landslides, as we’ve already seen.
We might enjoy the aircon weather, but we certainly won’t want our cars to get swept away by violent floods.
Fortunately, this protracted period of wet weather should end once the dry phase arrives in February.
Then, we can go back to complaining about how hot it is.
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Featured Image: Yusnizam Yusof / Shuttersock.com (Image for illustration purpose only)
