Kuala Lumpur and Surrounding Districts Hit by Flash Floods and Landslide

KUALA LUMPUR – Severe flash flooding, caused by heavy early morning rains, inundated Malaysia’s capital and nearby districts on Oct 15, disrupting daily life, including a Parliament session, and triggering a landslide in the suburb of Taman Melawati.

The flooding also affected University Malaya (UM), one of the country’s top universities, with videos shared on social media showing fast-flowing water across campus roads. In another video, kindergarten pupils in Gombak, Selangor, were seen standing on tables as rising water flooded their classroom.

The Klang Valley, encompassing Kuala Lumpur, has experienced unusually heavy rains weeks before the usual monsoon season. Over 114mm of rain was recorded in an hour, far exceeding the city’s average.

Traffic in the city was severely disrupted, with major roads such as Jalan Perak, Jalan Travers, and the Sultan Iskandar Highway experiencing significant flooding. In Parliament, Speaker Johari Abdul delayed proceedings due to flooding on Jalan Parlimen, postponing the session by half an hour.

In Taman Melawati, a landslide cut off 20 terrace houses, causing damage to a parked car and a guardhouse. No casualties were reported. Residents were evacuated to a multipurpose hall nearby.

The floods prompted concerns about safety, with a Master’s student at UM, Ms. Rozanna M Rosly, calling for her class to be held online due to the hazardous conditions. Meanwhile, in Gombak, 21 kindergarten students and four teachers were safely evacuated after being trapped by rising waters.

Authorities, including the police, fire department, and municipal officers, have been deployed to manage the situation and assist those affected by the floods and landslide.