The flood situation in the Klang Valley especially Selangor was deemed to be unexpected with most of the waterlogged areas causing the main roads to be closed. The continuous rains sometimes heavy for two days around the Klang Valley left many unprepared and trapped in homes or in vehicles on the main roads being flooded. Klang and Sepang were the twoworst affected by the floods. Apart from Selangor, the affected states are Pahang, Kelantan, Terengganu, Negeri Sembilan, Melaka, Kuala Lumpur and Perak.

This is a history as the country has previously been hit by major floods twice in 1926 (Major Bah) and subsequently in 1946. In fact, 50 years ago, Malaysia was rocked by a major flood tragedy that was considered the worst in the country's history. At that time, the urban area of Kuala Lumpur was also not spared from the disaster, where 60 percent of the capital's area was flooded and seemed to be in the middle of the ocean. The massive flooding also caused landslides that cut off road and rail links to major cities on the east coast and to Singapore. The devastating floods caused the country to incur heavy property losses worth over RM84.7 million with20 lives being victims of the flood while tens of thousands of others were affected.  Following this, a catastrophic emergency wasdeclared nationwide with effect on 5 January 1971.

Referring to the situation in Selangor, most of the residents were not prepared for the disaster resulting in property loss and loss of life. In addition, many were trapped and many had to evacuate immediately without having time to save property and identification documents. This is because, Selangor has never faced such a major flood this time, and the incident also occurred rapidly besides the incidents in Selangor occurred simultaneously involving several districts such as Sepang, Kuala Langat, Shah Alam and Klang.

Prime Minister Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob acknowledged that the management of flood disasters in Selangor faced problems compared to other states due to various factors which caused delays in providing assistance to the victims. In fact, even though a rain warning has been issued, the expectation of a large amount of rainfall is not in the minds of the residents. For example, in Taman Sri Muda in Shah Alam, the residents are used to flooding but did not expect the water to rise so quickly. In some residential areas, water rises up to the roof level of the house.

LIGHTNING FLOOD DISASTER IN SELANGOR, A FACTOR OF CLIMATE CHANGE?

Saintis warns the effects of climate change are now getting worse with multiple natural disasters more frequent, bringing havoc far more serious than ever. The 21st century has seen many natural disasters occur and the effects of global warming have also contributed to more severe hurricanes, unusual downpours and extreme heat, which can no longer be ignored.  Therefore, the natural encana caused by the effects of extreme weather such as floods wreaks havoc around the world. 

A study of a group of leading climate scientists found extreme changes in weather  patterns such as temperature, rain and humidity  may be caused by human-caused climate change. In mid-July, western Europe was hit by major flooding after heavy rains hit entire villages, leaving at least 209 people dead in Germany and Belgium and dozens more missing.  Flooding also caused damage in Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland. China also received the same fate as vehicles were washed away in downtown Zhengzhou and claimedat least 33 lives. The study found that the average rainfall that should have been received in a year, fell completely within three days in the city, causing muddy water to fill drains before overflowing onto streets, tunnels and subway lines.

A report released by the IPCC last August on the sixth IPCC Climate Change Assessment to bereleased in 2022 stated  that the phenomenon of global warming due to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from human activity greatly affects the global climate system, and that the phenomenon is now at an alarming level. If no drastic action is taken to reduce GHG emissions, the world is expected to face devastating natural disasters, among them more frequent and serious floods.  The world's climate change issue is gaining  attention and is gaining traction following major tragedies and disasters in the world including Malaysia, including water head events in Yan, Kedah, landslides and flash flood disasters in several states.

CLIMATE CHANGE INCREASES FLOOD INTENSITY

Blightning occurs  when the normally dry terrestrial area is flooded with water.  According to the Climatologist from the Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Prof Dr Fredolin Tangang, in Malaysia alone, the number of floods has increased over the past 20 years with lossesestimated to exceed RM8 billion.  Taking the example of Kuala Lumpur, he said studies have shown that the intensity of thunderstorms and extreme rainfall has increased by 30 per cent over the past 30 years, resulting in more frequent flooding. Therefore, the projections of extreme weather events in Southeast Asia including Malaysia will worsen in the future are alarming.  Each degree of increase in world temperatures, it will increase seven percent of the humidity in the atmosphere and this will increase the frequency of extreme episodes of weather such as flash floods.

This is also supported by  the Secretary General of the Ministry of Environment and Water (KASA) Datuk Seri Ir Dr Zaini Ujang who stated that in  the context of Southeast Asia including Malaysia, there is expected to be an increase in the water cycle which will lead to extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall, r banjiand more frequent droughts.  Malaysia was not spared the impact as shown by the results of the 40-year rainfall data study  - 'Study on Rainfall Change and Distribution in Malaysia' - conducted by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage in  2018. A comparison of the average monthly rainfall for the period 1999-2017 and 1978-1998 showed an increase in the percentage of rainfall in January of 46.4 per cent, March (9.8 per cent), June (2.9 per cent), August (9.7 per cent), October (1.6 per cent) and December (12.3 per cent), thus indicating that January and December are sensitive months and will receive an excess of monthly rainfall in Peninsular Malaysia.

The question is is the flash flood disaster in Selangor also catalyzed by the effects of climate change? The answer is yes. This is because, themain thing due to the effects of climate change is the more extreme flooding events, whether it is terrestrial flooding in terms of the increase in the number and intensity and frequency, and coastal flooding caused by rising sea levels that also cause the breakthrough ofsaltwater to the mainland.  The clash of the two scenarios allows for worse flooding events such as the massive flood disaster in 2014 in the eastern panta i stateespecially in Kelantan and now the worst flood in 7 years in Selangor.

Itexpects the extreme conditions to "get worse" over the next 20 years.  This proves that although climate change occurs unnoticed, the effects can be seen with the naked eye in the life of the floods whichinvolve the uncertainty of  the time when itcomes down and the rate of rainfall distribution at any given time.  Therefore, in Selangor, rainfall is more than double the highest level ever recorded with rainfall distribution rate reaching 380mm, compared to the previous high of 180mm. The 24-hour rainfall is equivalent to a month's rainfall, causing many areas in Selangor to be submerged before. The tide phenomenon in the area reached 4.5 metres which usually only reaches about 60mm.  Thus, this becomes a major flood when  the facilities provided to curb the overflow are unable to function.  As a result, the high river water cannot flow directly into the sea when it collides with the tide resulting in flooding especially in areas near the sea such as Port Klang and Banting.

NOT ONLY CLIMATE CHANGE FACTORS SOLELY

Malaysia has embraceda phase of climate change that is increasingly worrying and requires urgent action from all parties.  In fact, many do not expect major flooding to occur in Selangor because it is unprecedented.  So many people took the easy way by saying everything wasaffectedby  climate change.  However, the flooding is caused not only by weather and climate influences, but also aslew  of human extreme interventions that change the climate element to extreme levels to the point of potentially creating and exacerbating catastrophic events such as floods.  

The process of rapid and dense  urbanization led to many modernized areas. Lowland areas were redeemed by taking land from the hills. There are also creeks that are buried to be used as building sites. Such activities are a contributing factor to flooding.  If once the tributaries and valleys were used as watersheds, now the area has been buried with land. When it rains, the water will flow from the hills to the low-lying areas and then stagnate. Over time the water will increase and flash flooding will occur.

Forest destruction causes rain to continue to fall to the earth without being absorbed by plants.  If there is no forest or any vegetation to get the water, the rainwater will continue to fall ashore and this can accelerate flooding.  The heavy rain caused the water to flow heavily into the river. The river does not receive a large amount of rainwater. At this time the overflow of river water will occur resulting in flooding.

The poor maintenance of drains and drains will add to the problem especially when it is clogged due to garbage dumps and poorly maintained  deposits. Unplanned and  poorly maintained, inadequate, clogged and shallow drainage is the cause of frequent flash floods.  A few people who dumped rubbish in longkang and drains  as well as building materials and industrial  waste that blocked the waterways also contributed to the flash flood episode.   The existing drainage system is full and cannot cope with the flow of water resulting in overflow.

The act of recklessly dumping garbage into the river was found to be between the causes of lightning flooding.  Apart from plastics andfood stamps, electrical equipment such as furniture, ice crates and washing machines are also dumped in the river.  When heavy rain falls, the river cannot produce a lot of rainwater. Eventually the river water will overflow into the cliffs and with this the flooding will prevail.

HANDLING FLOODS

Flash floods are among the most common natural disasters in our country and can have some adverse effects on all life that can lead to death.  Therefore,  the best way is to live with nature and minimize disasters by studying the behavior of nature including flood phenomena.  The community needs to be formally and informally educated to always be ethical when interacting with nature so that nature 'does not vent its anger' in the form of  catastrophic expressions such as floods and landslides. In the face of a disaster, the community also needs  to be trained from all aspects of how to save property and lives when disaster strikes so that any form of loss can be minimized.

Hutan is recognized  as the cheapest and most  effective way  to address climate change  issues as forests are very effective in trapping carbon inoxides, which are the gases that are the cause of climate change.  Hence, the existing forest needs to be maintained and increased in size as well as gazetting more forest areas as forest reserves.

Access to information related to disaster expectations,  early warning systems, risk and emergency communications should  be enhanced so that the public is kept informed of the current situation of the victims and the disaster area so that the impact in terms of cost losses involving property and loss of life can be minimized.  Finally, the use of technology such as  flood risk areas based on satellite data and Geographic Information System (GIS) and the use of drones to monitor flood areas can also help.

Date of Input: 18/10/2022 | Updated: 18/10/2022 | nooryati