Five killed in flash floods in Malaysia

Flash floods, caused by hours of torrential rain have killed at least five in Malaysia.

Military forces were deployed on Sunday, to aid and rescue thousands of displaced people in the northern state of Penang.

Around 3,000 people were evacuated and housed in temporary shelters as nearly 80% of Penang was hit by typhoon-like winds and heavy rain, said chief minister Lim Guan Eng in a statement.

He said floodwaters had risen to 3-4 metres. Lim also warned in a Facebook post that more rain was expected and advised residents to stay at home.

Troops fanned out in Penang to rescue stranded flood victims and also to clear blocked routes and clean up.

Hundreds of trees were toppled and roads were submerged in Penang’s historic capital of George Town, leaving many areas largely paralyzed. The Malaysian state news agency said five people had been killed due to the floods.

“We remain fearful that there may still be untoward incidents because of the strong winds, the like of which have never been experienced before, and flash floods might recur,” Lim told reporters in Penang earlier on Sunday, according to Bernama.

The Southeast Asian nation’s meteorological service forecast stormy weather continuing in Penang as well as the neighboring northern states of Kedah and Perlis.