Floods in Malaysia, Thailand kill 24
The worst flooding in Malaysia in more than a decade has killed 10 people and forced nearly 160,000 from their homes and more rain is expected, authorities said yesterday.
Among the casualties, five were in the worst-hit state of Kelantan, in northeastern peninsular Malaysia. Over the border in southern Thailand, 14 people have been killed in the floods that began in mid-December, reports Reuters.
Malaysia yesterday pledged more funds to help over 160,000 people hit by flood as forecasters warned fresh rain could hamper efforts to relieve thousands left stranded by the waters.
"The country is in desperate need of more helicopters," deputy transport minister Aziz Kaprawi said yesterday, as rescue agencies warned that shortages of fuel and clean water were hampering search efforts.
The worst flooding in 30 years has devastated much of northern Malaysia, with some 8,000 people thought to have been left stranded across the impoverished Kelantan state, where 17 areas have been cut off by the rising waters.
From the air, state capital Kota Bharu appeared like a vast, muddy lake and left largely without power. Locals said many people had turned to looting because of a lack of fresh food and water supplies. Weather forecasters yesterday warned that much of Malaysia will see more storms in the next three days.
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