Putrajaya claims that unusually heavy rain caused KL flash floods and commits long-term climate change mitigation initiatives.
According to Environment and Water Minister Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, heavy rainfall, equivalent to half a month’s worth of rain in just two hours, was the cause of today’s floods in the capital city.
He added today at a press briefing that the ministry’s Taman Desa SMART station and Air Panas station reported rainfall readings of 106.5mm and 155mm, respectively, two hours after showers began around 2.30pm.
Accoridng to him, the floods were triggered by extremely strong rainfall over a two-hour period, leading the existing drainage system to be unable to accommodate the high water flow capacity. Rainfall has become more erratic; normally, the monsoon season begins towards the end of the year, but we are already witnessing rain in March. There is usually a drought in March. This is one of the direct consequences of climate change, and as a result, we’re focusing our efforts on long-term solutions.
Datuk Seri Zaini Ujang, the ministry’s secretary-general, revealed during the conference that Kuala Lumpur receives an average of 2500mm of rain each year, or around 208mm per month. The Gombak River’s water level had hit a “danger level” reading of 31.99m at the ministry’s Jalan Tun Razak station, while the river had risen to a height of 30.38m at the Jalan Parliament station, according to Tuan Ibrahim. Meanwhile, the Klang River hit 30.12 metres at the ministry’s Jambatan Tun Perak station.
According to Tuan Ibrahim, a parking lot in Besraya was flooded in water to a depth of 0.6 metres due to this flash flood episode. In addition, an estimated 103 residences in the Kuala Lumpur neighbourhoods of Kampung Perik and Kampung Pasir Baru were impacted. He also stated that his ministry has asked RM393 billion for long-term flood mitigation options in Malaysia. Tuan Ibrahim told Parliament in January that the government will need to spend more than RM300 billion on flood mitigation measures over the next 50 years, including the construction of embankments and dykes.
Government officials confirmed flash flooding in various sections of the Klang Valley, particularly in Kuala Lumpur, earlier today. At around 4 p.m., reports of flash floods in portions of the capital city began to circulate, with various videos from social media users showing automobiles and roadways swamped.
