Flash flood in North Malaysia leaves 9,000 homeless

By P Prem Kumar
Malaysia (AA) -- More than 9,000 people were evacuated from their homes Sunday as the weekend's flash flood worsens in the northern states of Malaysia, claiming seven lives to-date.
The number of flood victims on the island state Penang increased to 5,845, compared to 3,779 recorded last night.
More than 62 evacuation centers have opened, Penang northeast district police chief Anuar Omar told Anadolu Agency by telephone.
"The flood situation worsened if compared to yesterday, with several areas inundated by 0.2 to one metre of water as a result of heavy rain and strong winds since Thursday," he said.
The flood is reported to be the worst the state has ever experienced.
In the neighbouring state Kedah, the number of flood victims rose to 3,402 compared to the last count of 2,721 yesterday.
State civil defence director Mohd Zul Khairi Shamsuddin told Anadolu Agency that the victims are placed in 40 evacuation centers.
"We are prepared to face worst situation as we are experiencing continuous rainfall since last Thursday," he said.
There are however, no casualties reported in Kedah as of press time.