Floods in Malaysia in January 2021. -
CHINA NOUVELLE / SIPA
Heavy floods have affected Malaysia for several days.
More than 28,000 people have had to leave their homes and the authorities have already identified four deaths.
In some areas, these are the worst floods in decades.
The state of Pahang was the most affected with more than 21,000 evacuations.
Johor state has suffered 4,000 evacuations and the rest of the country has several thousand, according to the Department of Social Affairs.
Malaysian villagers escape floods on excavator as 28,000 evacuatedhttps: //t.co/ZBb2HfxuBh
📸 @rasfan #AFP pic.twitter.com/DQH37X7wk1
- AFP Photo (@AFPphoto) January 6, 2021
Rescued by an excavator
Villagers were evacuated with an excavator on Wednesday in Kampung Sementeh (Pahang).
The town was isolated by water and several residents, including a pregnant woman and a sick old woman, were stuck.
They were rescued in the craft's raised excavator, while others clung to the cabin to cross the flooded roads.
Electricity has been cut in the locality and some houses are flooded.
In another village, residents had to swim across nearly six feet of deep water to access food and drinking water.
Risks of coronavirus contamination
According to several residents, this is the worst flooding in the region in almost 40 years.
"We are disappointed and angry," says a forty-something.
It has been three days and we have not received any help from the government.
"
The floods come as the coronavirus epidemic worsens in the country.
The risks of contamination in overcrowded accommodation centers are high.
The authorities said they had put in place preventive measures and asked officials to test the evacuated villagers.
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