Flood situation in Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur is spared though

Wet is the word to start off the day. It's raining here in Kuala Lumpur.

This is the time of the year of the monsoon season. Malaysia experiences two monsoon seasons a year and this time it's the north-easterly monsoon which begins in September right up to December/January. Not so much of the wind but the rain is much feared. The flood situation currently is bad or rather worse off than previous years with six states being affected including Sabah on the island of Borneo.

On the bright side for KLites, KL is not experiencing any flash flood so far unlike the other six states with flood waters almost reaching the roof in some places.

Even our National Park in Pahang, Taman Negara, is not spared. Some 102 tourists were caught unawares and stranded but they are out of danger with food supplies reaching them and they being safely flown out to safe ground.

Kajang town, the town of satay was also not spared. Kajang suffered a flash flood last Saturday and some animals at an animal shelter perished.

An umbrella or a raincoat is a good item to bring along should you wish to visit Malaysia this time of the year. Alternatively, they are readily available at very affordable prices, anyway.


Image source: The Star

Kajang and Satay

Looking at the picture below you have to feel sorry for the town-folk in the 'satay' town. Yes, Kajang was hit by a flash flood two days ago.

Why 'satay' you may ask. Kajang, the town about 15 miles south of KL is known for its satay.

Satay (or Sate) is grilled skewered sticks of meat (most common here are chicken and beef) dipped in a peanut sauce. Satay is normally served with cucumber and onions and ketupat (rice cooked in a casing of palm leaves).

If you are visiting Malaysia, don't leave home without trying our satay. They are easily available from roadside foodstalls to hotel restaurants. A picture tells a thousand words.. here's a thousand words (courtesy of Google). Yum!

Kuala Lumpur hit by flash floods again yesterday - April 10

Boy, was I glad to be home early yesterday. From indoors, I could see the tree branches swaying back and forth from the beating of the storm. Lightning strikes in quick succession and the wind howling outside had me being thankful that I was not on the road caught in that awful weather nor having to contend with the traffic snarl.

Traffic in many parts of Kuala Lumpur was chaotic yesterday after that thunderstorm that caused flash floods along major roads including Jalan Tun Razak, Jalan Parlimen, Jalan Duta, Jalan Pudu, Jalan Cheras Lama, Jalan Chan Sow Lin and Jalan Segambut being affected.

This shows Jalan Ampang inundated though I can't quite tell the exact location. My guess is it is at the end of Jalan Ampang near Chinatown as you can see the pre-war rows of shops in the centre and right. Anyone?

This one is along Jalan Tun Razak, the road that has a few prominent buildings including the National Heart Institute, the National Library and the National Cultural Centre/National Theatre.

 The red-and-blue vehicle upfront is one among the many different coloured-taxis we have here. Malaysian taxis come in a variety of colours including red-and-blue, like the one in the picture, lime green, blue, yellow, red-and-white, orange and a few others.

All this weather havoc happened from 5:30pm onwards as people were getting ready to finish work to head on home. Were you caught in all this?

Today is set for yet another overcast day just as what the Malaysian Met Department's seven-day forecast predicted: rain is expected again today.

No matter, have a wonderful day ahead, rain or shine! Psst.. just be wise enough to have a brolly (umbrella) with you. It pays to be prepared, remember?

Related articles on KL floods:
Flash floods hit Puchong
Kuala Lumpur hit by flood again - Dec 14 2011
Flash floods hit Kuala Lumpur Dec 13 2011
Freak storm and strong winds caused more flooding yesterday


Source: The Star..Heavy traffic in Kuala Lumpur as flash floods hit several major roads

Flash floods hit Puchong

Was told this evening about Puchong being flooded but didn't expect it to be this bad.




According to The Star, the 30-minute flash flood was caused by backflow from monsoon drains feeding into the Klang river. It reached 0.8m in height at parts of Km 21.36 and caused a number of cars to stall.

The basement floors of IOI Mall Puchong opposite the affected highway section were flooded as well including the interior of the mall, causing several businesses at the entrance to shut down temporarily while cleaning operations were taking place.


Related article:
Freak storm and strong winds yesterday wreaked havoc across the Klang Valley resulting in flash floods and trees being uprooted damaging property.

Manila is badly flooded

Not only is Penang flooded, Manila, The Philippines capital city of 15 million is brought to a standstill caused by floods forcing at least 20,000 people to flee their homes as floodwaters covered half the sprawling city, according to the authorities.

Schools, financial markets and most government offices were shut as key roadways in Manila - a metropolis of some 15 million people - were made impassable by waters that in some areas reached neck-deep.

Residents of low-lying slums fled the huge shantytowns lining Manila's rivers and sewers for the safety of schools, gymnasiums and government buildings.

The death toll from eight days of sustained rains has risen to 53 with more than 268,000 people forced to flee their homes across the country, according to disaster authorities.

More from The Star..Philippine capital brought to standstill in floods

Kuala Lumpur could use more rainfall to alleviate the possible water shortage as well as clear the air from the haze caused by the burning hotspots.

Flash flood in Penang

In Penang, many households were affected by an early morning flood after a downpour that started at 3am.

Parts of Jalan P. Ramlee, Jalan Sungai Pinang, Jalan Patani, Jalan Air Itam and Jalan Datuk Keramat were flooded. The water level was knee-deep in some areas, and the situation was made worse by the high tide yesterday.

More from The Star..Thousands in Penang hit by morning floods

Klang flooded after heavy downpour

I remember my late grandmother used to say that rainy weather is associated with this time of the year, among a few other occasions throughout the year. This is based on the Lunar calendar. My observations tell me that these weather condition predictions linking to the months of the year are pretty accurate.

These few weeks of the third lunar month mark the time for tomb-sweeping or the annual ritual where families of Buddhist/Toaist faith visit ancestral grave-sites to clean up the site(s) and to make offerings - of food, drink, flowers, incense and candles and 'gold paper' (currency in the afterlife) as well as other papercraft items to ensure the spirit of the deceased has lots of good things in the afterlife.

Of late, heavy downpour has been wreaking havoc in a lot of regions in Malaysia. The latest being the Klang district, located about 32km to the west of Kuala Lumpur.

A downpour coupled with high tide caused widespread flooding in Klang and Port Klang and forced banks and businesses to turn away customers. Ten schools were forced to cancel classes and hundreds of families were badly affected as drains overflowed and the water entered houses and shops.

Water is not the only thing to contend with as the sudden rise in water level caused reptiles to come out from the drains onto the roads. Nine pythons have been caught in the town area and a man caught six monitor lizards making him a happy man as he could sell them for money.

It has been said this is the worst flood in 45 years. Some images from The Star..

Source: The Star..Floods wreak havoc in Klang

I Hear You Knocking.. - Alligator at the door

Have you sometimes seen a picture or an image or hear a song, and instantly link it to something you have seen before?

During the recent Bangkok floods, a picture of a crocodile literally standing at a door instantly got me linking it to this song by Dave Edmunds - I Hear You Knocking. Funny stuff! Give the song a listen. It's a good ole rocking number.

Dave Edmunds with Jools Holland Rhythm & Blues Band - New Year 2009

This is Mr Croc in question. I hear you knocking, but you can't come in..

On looking for the source of this image, found that this wasn't in Bangkok but rather in Jamestown, western New York. This 3-foot alligator was found wandering in someone else’s yard. The resident immediately reported the incident around 7:45 a.m to the police. The authorities and the animal control officers came rushing to the place and were able to catch the alligator. When ask, residents didn’t know where it come from or how long had been wandering in the area. Here is the source, Alligator knocking on your door.

Apparently, alligators are known to do that - knock on doors. Here is another instance of one such spectacle..'Darling, there's an alligator at the door'.

Source: dailymail.co.uk

I Hear You Knocking.. - Alligator at the door

Have you sometimes seen a picture or an image or hear a song, and instantly link it to something you have seen before?

During the recent Bangkok floods, a picture of a crocodile literally standing at a door instantly got me linking it to this song by Dave Edmunds - I Hear You Knocking. Funny stuff! Give the song a listen. It's a good ole rocking number.

Dave Edmunds with Jools Holland Rhythm & Blues Band - New Year 2009

This is Mr Croc in question. I hear you knocking, but you can't come in..

On looking for the source of this image, found that this wasn't in Bangkok but rather in Jamestown, western New York. This 3-foot alligator was found wandering in someone else’s yard. The resident immediately reported the incident around 7:45 a.m to the police. The authorities and the animal control officers came rushing to the place and were able to catch the alligator. When ask, residents didn’t know where it come from or how long had been wandering in the area. Here is the source, Alligator knocking on your door.

Apparently, alligators are known to do that - knock on doors. Here is another instance of one such spectacle..'Darling, there's an alligator at the door'.

Source: dailymail.co.uk

Rio de Janeiro hit by floods and mudslides

Source: The Star

Rio de Janeiro was hit by floods around this time last year, which left 903 people dead. The same happened in April the year before in 2010. This year again, news around the world is reporting floods and mudslides in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro state.

Emergency teams are on maximum alert as heavy rains that have displaced 35,000 residents were forecast to continue, reviving fears of mudslides and flooding that killed more than 900 people early last year.

Related articles:
Brazil is flooded once more.. Aljazeera

Part of a highway in Campos, 230km from Rio de Janeiro, was washed away after several days of heavy rains [Reuters]

Burst dike forces thousands to flee Brazil town..MSNBC

A girl stands on the top of the roof of her house, where her family has gathered belongings in Campos, Rio de Janeiro State, after floodwaters burst a nearby dike on Jan. 5, 2012. Leonardo Berenger/Parceiro / AFP - Getty Images

4,000 Brazilians evacuated as dike bursts after heavy rains..CNN

People watch water run through a washed-out road Thursday in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro state

According to The Star,
Residents scrambled to gather their belongings and flee in the Tres Vendas district of Campos de Goytacazes in the north of the state, after a dike ruptured, sending water rushing through the streets.

Emergency workers said more than 1,000 families from Tres Vendas were evacuated to shelters. More..Rio de Janeiro on maximum alert as towns flood

A video posted by Reuters of the flooding so far.


Rio de Janeiro will be hosting two major football tournaments - the FIFA Confederations Cup 2013 and the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Kuching hit by massive floods

Here we are talking about the beautiful weather here in Kuala Lumpur while over in East Malaysia, Kuching to be exact, we see floods after 12 hours of continuous rain. Many parts of Kuching in Sarawak are at a standstill today.

A car is caught in flood waters near the former government quarters area in Batu Lintang. Photo by Andrew Voon.

From The Star:

The affected areas include Batu Kawah, Batu Lintang, Sungai Maong, Iris Garden and Satok. Many roads are impassable to small vehicles.

At the flyover from the Kuching international airport, motorists reported that all four lanes heading towards the city are jammed.

At least one school in Batu Lintang is believed to have closed for the day due to flood waters.

It is learnt that two students from a school in Batu Lintang are missing due to the floods. A search for the students is now being conducted.

Kuala Lumpur hit by flood again - Dec 14 2011

Kuala Lumpur was again hit by floods in various parts of the city after a heavy downpour this afternoon. Affected areas included Raja Chulan, the Pudu area, Jalan Tun Razak (again) and Jalan Sultan Ismail, and the basement car park of Sungei Wang Plaza was submerged in ankle-deep water.

Image source: The Star

Flash floods hit Kuala Lumpur Dec 13 2011

..and again on Apr 13, 2013..Kuala Lumpur hit by flash floods again yesterday

This is Jalan Tun Razak being flooded yesterday.
If not for the caption in the article, I wouldn't have been able to tell where this place is. Flooding changes a whole landscape.

Heavy rain yesterday just for a couple of hours caused Sungei (River) Bunus to overflow and thigh-high floodwaters cut off traffic along Jalan Tun Razak causing massive traffic jams during the evening peak hours. This stretch is in front of the national library which is also where the National Heart Institute (IJN) is located on the opposite side.

Floodwaters reached chest level according to a nursery school teacher. Some 23 children were all ushered to the second floor and were later rescued by boat by rescue team from the Fire department. 20 students of a multimedia college located next to the nursery were also evacuated.

Many vehicle drivers abandoned their vehicles and waded out.

However, all roads were accessible after the flood waters subsided at 7pm.


Source: The Star.. Over 20 nursery children rescued in KL flash floods

Freak storm and strong winds caused more flooding yesterday

**Read about the Puchong flash flood on Feb 18, 2013


Freak storm and strong winds yesterday wreaked havoc across the Klang Valley resulting in flash floods and trees being uprooted damaging property.

This image shows vehicles negotiating floodwaters over a stretch of the Damansara-Puchong Highway in Puchong.

Bumper-to-bumper traffic along Jalan Tun Razak in Kuala Lumpur.

On the east coast, Kuantan was not spared either as several areas in the state capital of Pahang were hit, areas which do not normally experience floods.

Malaysians have been urged to brace for the worst in anticipation of weather pattern changes.

Meanwhile, Kajang is recovering from the flood which stuck this town south of Kuala Lumpur on Friday when torrential rain broke the riverbank causing flood waters to rise rapidly flooding the town for three hours.

Source: The Star

Kajang flooded for about three hours after torrential rain

Aerial view of the flood today. — Photo from Facebook/Malaysian Insider

Hours of torrential rain this afternoon caused the river to break its banks resulting in Kajang town being submerged under floodwaters with cars being swept aside. The town practically came to a standstill as waters rose to more than a meter. Water rushed into shopping complexes, shops and restaurants.

The streets began to flood at 3pm and by 6pm, floodwaters have subsided enough for cars to move.

Two videos below from The Malaysian Insider..




Images from The Star where you can also read more about the flood.

Flood havoc in Kuala Lumpur/Klang Valley

Were you caught in the traffic jam on Monday? Was shocked to see how bad it was in parts of KL after a heavy downpour. The image below is shocking. This happened below the overhead LRT bridge in Jalan Chan Sow Lin.

Source: The Star..Downpour creates havoc in the Klang Valley

Aftermath of the flood in Johore

That's a mattress alright amidst the debris left behind by the flood. Household items like mattresses, sofa and even refrigerator lying washed up on the railway track in Segamat after the floods had receded.

After days of incessant rain and floods, the situation is improving and the number of evacuees are returning to their home and some to catch up with preparations for the Chinese New Year.

The sun is shining again and the worst appears to be over.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who visited the site, said flood victims could expect aid from the Government to rebuild their lives, adding that the authorities would assess the damage.

Segamat Flood update - and other towns in Johore, southern state

While most of us will be celebrating Chinese New Year in a joyous mood, this year's Chinese New Year will start on a sad note for a lot of families whose homes are hit by the current bad floods particularly in the south and in Sarawak. The Star today carries a series of articles on the flood situation such as the one below.

Segamat flood updates on Facebook - including a tip on getting from Gemas to Kuala Lumpur.

Below is a picture from a Chinese-language newspaper..

KTM Berhad was forced to cancel several intercity train services in Negri Sembilan and Johor.
Source: 40,000 evacuated to relief centres as floods hit five states

Related articles:
Mercy Malaysia to help flood victims in Johor and Sarawak

Airlift for the stranded, DPM also orders food to be sent to Johor flood victims

More than 47,000 flood victims in Johor evacuated (Update)

Messages on situation in Johor pouring in via Twitter

Gemas town centre

Kota Tinggi

Floods in Singapore... Ooh, nasty!!

I just saw this online - Singapore flooded today with cars stranded on roads which were flooded by rain water along the main commercial area, Orchard Road. Singapore has been experiencing unusually wet weather the past week.

On the other hand, Kuala Lumpur has been hot and dry. We could do with some of that rain in Singapore though.

Image source: The Star

Flood and Havoc in the Philippines caused by Tropical Storm Ketsana

Latest updates:
- Aug 10, 2012: Floods in Philippines - No respite from rain
- Aug 7, 2012: Manila is badly flooded


More than a month’s worth of rain fell in just 12 hours Saturday as Tropical Storm Ketsana slammed ashore in the Philippines triggering the worst flooding in decades in the capital Manila and nearby provinces.

Philippines President Gloria Arroyo appealed for donations and called for calm.



Blogger, Rej, lives in Manila. Here is her comment on the flood:

We are glad you and your family are fine and safe, Rej. Take care.

Related articles:
Philippines battles flood chaos
Philippine storm leaves at least 106 dead, missing
Philippine storm leaves 106 dead and missing
In pictures: Philippine flood clear up
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