LOC09:16
06:16 GMT
By Abdullah Buqas
KUAKA LUMPUR, Jan 31 (KUNA) -- Floods, which killed two people in southern
Malaysia, forced thousands of people to head to Kuala Lumpur and other safe
areas.
An eyewitness told KUNA here Monday that about 30,000 people evacuated
their homes in Johor province and moved to the capital and other big cities
because of the heavy rain that was falling since last week.
He added that highways between Johor and Kuala Lumpur were crowded.
That coincided with the celebrations of the Chinese new year, which will
begin in two days.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian Meteorological Department said that rain will
continue falling until the end of this week.
Malaysia Insider newspaper said Monday that the eastern part of Singapore
was also hit by floods caused by heavy rain.
Water covered most of the bridges, hindering movement between the two
countries.
From December 2006 to January 2007, 60,000 people in Johor suffered from
floods that killed about 6 people and injured thousands of others.
Damage caused by the floods then cost about 1.5 billion Malaysia ringgit.
One ringgit equals about USD 0.3326. (end)
aab.ris
KUNA 310916 Jan 11NNNN