At least 4 people have died and 2 are reported missing following massive flash floods and landslides that hit the steep hillsides of Gunung Jerai in Yan District of Kedah State, Malaysia.
The weather station at Gunung Jerai (Mount Jerai) in Kedah recorded 219 mm of precipitation in 24 hours through August 18, 2021. Representatives of the emergency services said that in just 1 hour, 90 mm of precipitation fell.
Teams from the Malaysia Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) and the Special Malaysian Disaster Relief and Rescue Team (SMART) were dispatched to the disaster area following reports of several missing persons from the flood. As of the afternoon of Aug.19, JBPM officials have confirmed that rescue teams have found the bodies of 4 victims, but 2 are still missing. One person was injured in the flood.
Other parts of the state were also affected, with a total of 96 people evacuated from their homes in the Bandar Baharu, Kuala Muda and Yan districts of Kedah state.
The states of Penang, Perak and Selangor have also experienced flooding and heavy rainfall over the past few days, according to emergency authorities. Malaysia's National Disaster Management Center (NDCC) reported that as of August 19, a total of 258 people from 72 families have evacuated their homes and are in 12 evacuation centers.
In Penang, the Barat Daya and Seberang Perai Selatan districts were affected and 34 people were forced to flee their homes. The Larut Matang and Selama districts in Perak were also flooded, forcing 65 people to evacuate. In Selangor, 63 people have been evacuated from their homes in the Sepang area, In Shah Alam in Selangor, 90 mm of precipitation fell in the 24 hours before August 17. The water level in the Burnham River in Hulu Selangor has risen above the alarm level (18, 10 meters) and as of August 18 was 18, 18 meters.
