Malaysia and Thailand are bracing for a new wave of intense rainfall and potential floods this week, officials announced on Monday.
This comes even as some residents, previously displaced, have started to return to their homes, and as the region’s most severe floods in decades have begun to subside in certain areas.
Since the onset of last week, heavy rains and floods have claimed 27 lives and affected over half a million households across these Southeast Asian neighbors, marking this as the most intense flooding in recent years, according to authorities.
Local reports on Monday indicated that the situation has stabilized in some regions, with water levels falling.
In Malaysia, the number of evacuees in shelters decreased to approximately 128,000 from 152,000 the previous day, as reported by the country’s disaster management agency.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department predicts a convergence of winds in the hardest-hit states of Kelantan and Terengganu from December 3 to 4, likely to trigger thunderstorms and further heavy rainfall.
This weather event is expected to be followed by a monsoon surge affecting the Malaysian peninsula from December 8 to 14.
The floods have wreaked havoc, destroying homes, disrupting rail services, and severely impacting local businesses and agricultural sectors, including causing significant damage to over 38,000 hectares of paddy fields in key rice-growing regions of Malaysia.
Meanwhile, in southern Thailand, the Interior Ministry reported on Monday that 434,000 households are still grappling with the effects of the floods, a decrease of about 100,000 from the weekend’s figures.
The government has been distributing food and supplies to those affected by the flooding. Additionally, the ministry noted that water levels are receding in seven provinces.
Thailand’s Meteorological Department has issued a warning for the lower southern regions to be vigilant against heavy to very heavy rains and the potential for flash flooding and overflows. This is particularly critical near foothills, waterways, and low-lying areas from December 3 to 5.
