| Date | December 18, 2006 – January 27 ,2007 [1] |
|---|---|
| Location | Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore |
| Deaths | 152 [2] |
The 2006-07 Southeast Asian floods were a series of floods that hit Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. The floods were due to having a higher than average rainfall in the affected areas, which was attributed to Typhoon Utor which had hit the Philippines and Vietnam a few days earlier [3]. The floods were during the festive season of Christmas and New Year's Day, with places in southern Malaysia, being worst hit. During the week starting on December 18 2006, a series of floods hit the Peninsular Malaysian states of Johor, Malacca, Pahang and Negeri Sembilan as well as Singapore. [4] Later, the Sumatra island as well as Aceh in Indonesia was badly hit as well.
In Singapore the 24-hour rainfall recorded on December 19 was 366 mm, the third highest recorded rainfall in 75 years.[5] There was a heavy rain during that two weeks, with rain occurring almost every day.
Later that week, beginning December 22, North Sumatra and Aceh experienced abnormal rainfall which also caused flooding [6]
History
editTyphoon Utor was blamed for heavy rains of up to 350 mm within 24 hours in southern Peninsular Malaysia, specifically Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and Pahang, causing massive floods within the southern region on December 18 2006, which was considered as the worst in the Malaysian southern region history.[7] However, there were also reports a few days earlier that adverse weather was not to be blamed on the typhoon.[8] The worst-affected areas were Segamat and Kota Tinggi, where both towns were totally inaccessible by land after all main roads leading to those towns were all flooded.[9] Until January 4 2007, the floods had claimed 15 lives. Heavy rains are excepted in Penang, Perak, Kelantan and other states in the northern region at this period. [10]
The amount of rainfall in Johor Bahru on December 19 was a record high of 289mm of rainfall recorded on that day with the annual rainfall of the city alone is 2400mm. [11] [12]
Impact
editMalaysia
editPeninsular Malaysia
editThe flooding began when torrential downpours since Sunday caused rivers and dams to overflow. Weather officials described the flooding as the worst in the area in a century.[13] At least six people died.[14]
East Malaysia
editSingapore
editIndonesia
editSumatra
editThe floods hit areas such as Northern Sumatra and Aceh leaving many homeless and the floods last for a week starting on December 22. An estimated 400,000 people were displaced at the peak of the flooding and at least 118 people dead with 155 people missing as of December 29, 2006. There are fears fresh flooding could occur in Malaysia. [15]
Sulawesi
editJakarta
editAftermath
editRecords
editReferences
edit- ^ Osman, Salim (December 25, 2006). "Over 70 dead as rains lash Sumatra". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. p. 1.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Associated Press (December 30, 2006). "Flood survivors in dire need of medicine". The Straits Times. Singapore Press Holdings. p. 22.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ The Star. Utor to blame. December 21 2006.
- ^ The Star. Segamat and Kota Tinggi folks stranded by floods. December 21 2006.
- ^ Channel Newsasia. Tuesday's heavy rainfall third highest in 75 years. December 20 2006. Retrieved December 23 2006.
- ^ Mail&Guardian. Heavy flooding uproots thousands in Asia. December 22 2006.
- ^ Typhoon Utor to blame The Star Online
- ^ http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/12/14/nation/16311944&sec=nation
- ^ Segamat and Kota Tinggi folks stranded by floods The Star Online
- ^ Relief all round The Star Online
- ^ Stephanie Phang. Bloomberg. Malaysian Floods Force 22,740 People to Leave Homes (Update1). December 20 2006. Retrieved December 23 2006.
- ^ The Star. 35cm of rain in just a day. December 20 2006.
- ^ Associated Press via International Herald Tribune. 2 killed, 60,000 displaced in worst flooding in a century in southern Malaysia. December 20 2006.
- ^ CNN. Malaysia floods kill at least 6 December 22 2006.
- ^ International Herald Tribune. Indonesia struggles to help flood victims. December 29 2006.