26 Dec 2014

Worst floods in decades hit Malaysia

4:22 pm on 26 December 2014

Authorities say extremely high floodwater levels and bad weather have made the evacuations and the airlifting of food supplies, difficult.

Malaysia flood

Tourists from various countries gather after arriving at a school used as an evacuation centre in Jerantut, a major town in central Pahang, Malaysia. Photo: AFP

Authorities said extremely high floodwater levels and bad weather have made the evacuations and the airlifting of food supplies, difficult.

A total of 103,412 people had been displaced in Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Perak and Perlis, state news agency Bernama said, surpassing the previous record of 100,000 people evacuated during floods in 2008.

The north-eastern peninsular area of Malaysia, is regularly hit by flooding during the annual Northeast Monsoon, but this year's rains have been particularly bad.

The flooding came as communities in north-western Malaysia mark the [ http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/world/262628/mosque-a-testament-to-survival 10th anniversary of the Boxing Day tsunami].