Malaysia on Sunday pledged more funds to help over 160,000 people hit by the country’s worst flooding in decades, as forecasters warned fresh rain could hamper efforts to relieve thousands left stranded by the waters.
Prime Minister Najib Razak announced an additional 500 million ringgit ($143 million) after touring parts of Kelantan state Saturday, which along with northeastern Terengganu and Pahang regions has been worst hit by the deluge.
Eight people have reportedly been killed so far by the torrential monsoon rains, and fears are mounting that the toll could rise as communities have been left stranded without food or medicine.
“The country is in desperate need of more helicopters,” deputy transport minister Aziz Kaprawi said on Sunday, 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 on Sunday warned that much of Malaysia will see more storms in the next three days.
“We expect another surge in heavy rain followed by strong winds brought by the seasonal northeast monsoon, which usually continues till March,” a meteorological department official told AFP.
“It is going to take time for the flood waters to subside.”
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