Flood and Flash Flood Geo-Hazards in Malaysia

Abstract

Floods are natural phenomena of geo-hazards that usually happened when experiencing prolonged heavy rainfalls. Floods in Malaysia can be categorized into monsoon floods and flash floods. Monsoon floods is caused of Northeast Monsoon season commences in early November and ends in March that brings heavy rainfall, particularly to the east coast states of Peninsular Malaysia and western Sarawak. Flash floods usually occur in areas with rapid development by a rapid rise in water level, high velocity, and large amounts of debris. Flooding that occurred in December 2014 can be classified as worst floods that affected several states in Peninsular Malaysia, and the worst affected is Kelantan state. This disaster was recorded more than 200,000 people were affected with 21 people were killed and gives a massive impact on people, properties, agriculture, livestock, and infrastructure facilities. Following the worst floods that hit Malaysia in 2014, the opinions and views from various parties such as subject matter experts was needed to produce mitigations and prevents of the flood disaster at once to minimize vulnerability to hazard.

Impacts of and adaptation to climate change on the oil palm in Malaysia: a systematic review

“…In the coming decades, climate change is expected to make the situation even more difficult. 1886, 1926, 1931, 1947, 1954, 1957, 1965, 1967, 1970/1971, 1988, 1993, 1996(Buslima et al 2018.…”

“…The annual occurrence of the flood hazard has compelled oil palm growers to plan ahead of time in order to minimise its impacts (Safiah Yusmah et al 2020 ). Large floods with devastating impacts that occurred in Malaysia include 1886, 1926, 1931, 1947, 1954, 1957, 1965, 1967, 1970/1971, 1988, 1993, 1996, 2000, 2006/2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 (Buslima et al 2018 ).…”

“…Floods and flash floods are common in Malaysia during periods of persistent rainfall which accounts for significant losses(Safiah Yusmah et al 2020). Flooding is common during the northeast monsoon season often experienced in the east coast states of Peninsular Malaysia such as Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and Western Sarawak(Buslima et al 2018). The estimated area prone to flood disaster is approximately 29,800 km 2 of the total land area in Malaysia, and it affects nearly 4.82 million people in the country (Department ofIrrigation and Drainage 2009;Sani et al 2014;Mohd Taib et al 2016).…”

Estimation of losses and damages caused by flash floods in the commercial area of Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia

“…Evidence from a study showed that farmers can also be severely affected by floods with a limited capacity to cope and adapt (Brida et al, 2013). In the case of Malaysia, the flash flood of December 2014 can be classified as one of the worst floods with a massive impact on people, properties, agriculture, livestock, and infrastructure facilities (Buslima et al, 2018).…”

Prediction of daily water level using new hybridized GS-GMDH and ANFIS-FCM models

“…The accurate prediction of a river water level improves flood prediction systems and can act as a warning alarm for early decision-making and planning to reduce the effect of flood events which is considered as one of the most damaging natural hazards on life and property (Hettiarachchi & Thilakumara, 2014;Morales-Pinzón et al, 2015;Tsujikura et al, 2016;Xu et al, 2019). In Malaysia, floods and flash floods are often happened due to prolonged heavy rainfall; however, the possibility of floods may increase as a result of climate change and global warming (Arbain & Wibowo, 2012;Buslima et al, 2018;Suri et al, 2014). To deal with the flood phenomena, three categories of critical river water levels have been introduced by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage CONTACT Saad Sh.…”