3,600 evacuated in Selangor, relief centres to test for Covid-19

A supermarket is flooded in Shah Alam in Selangor. Roads have been closed and thousands evacuated after the floods in the Klang Valley. (Twitter pic)

PETALING JAYA: Thousands have been evacuated, roads closed and cars stranded all over as many parts of Selangor were hit by floods after incessant rain.

Many of the evacuees have been moved into temporary relief centres, sparking fears of another Covid-19 outbreak.

Klang and Shah Alam were among the worst hit, with houses almost completely covered and the Shah Alam expressway forced to be closed. There were massive jams on roads leading into and out of these townships.

Selangor has opened 46 temporary relief centres in Klang, Petaling, Sepang, Kuala Langat and Kuala Selangor districts as non-stop heavy rain lashed the state, with floods reported all over.

About 3,600 people have been placed at these relief centres and more are expected.

In a statement, Selangor menteri besar Amirudin Shari said all the centres were equipped with basic necessities such as clothes, food, hand sanitiser and face masks. Small rooms will also be provided to protect the privacy of families,” he said.

With the country still battling the Covid-19 pandemic, all the flood victims will go through Covid-19 screening periodically, to avoid any spread, he said.

He said all state government assets and agencies such as the fire and rescue department, police, and armed forces have been deployed.

“I have ordered Air Selangor to prepare a mobile water tank to be placed at all the centres for the flood victims,” he said.

He said all efforts will be coordinated by Smart Selangor Operations Centre (SSOC) that is operating round-the-clock in Shah Alam.

Amirudin also said 134 sluice gates had to be closed due to the rising water level to avoid water from spilling over to residential areas.

“As many as 93 pumps are fully operating to speed up the water flow to the river drainage system to control the flood situation in the five districts in Selangor,” he said.

He advised residents in the affected areas to obey the advice of safety teams and make preparations in case they are ordered to move to temporary relief centres.

He also added that anyone who is in need of help, can contact the Selangor Disaster Management unit at 03-50350920. - FMT