Malaysia: Floods raging, 90,000 people evacuated

A second flood forced Malaysian authorities to evacuate more than 90,000 people in the state of Johor in the southern part of the country. The first flood had caused more than 10,000 people to evacuate.

According to local newspapers, many large rivers have overflowed and isolated many towns, including a completely submerged town, only to see houses.

The new flood comes as many people are returning home from camps after the flood in December, killing at least 17 people.

Heavy rains have flooded the state of Johor (bordering Singapore) in the last 4 days and forecasts show no sign of rain will decrease. About 355 relief centers were set up in high lands to provide shelter for the number of evacuation giants.

Two of the evacuees were killed by coccidiosis, a water-borne disease that spreads through the urine of mice, dogs and cattle.

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said on 12 January that the government could issue a state of emergency if flooding worsens. He also said the government is closely monitoring the situation.

T.VY