KUALA LUMPUR: Authorities in Kajang are on standby to deal with the prospect of flooding by identifying high-risk areas and potential relief centres to be activated.
Hulu Langat district officer Dr Ani Ahmad said the land office was working closely with community leaders to get updates on any affected areas.
“Once we receive information about floods, we will activate relief centres immediately to house victims. We will notify the Welfare Department of the number of evacuees so they can prepare accordingly.
“The district health office will conduct Covid-19 screening and isolate those who test positive,” she said when contacted.
Kajang was on high alert with two housing areas inundated on Monday after a heavy downpour that lasted for about half an hour in the evening.
Floodwaters in Taman Lembah Mewah and neighbouring Taman Zamrud receded after about 20 minutes.
Kajang Municipal Council public relations head Kamarul Izlan Sulaiman said both areas were located in low-lying land.
“This caused the water from higher ground to gush into the drain near the main road of Jalan Semenyih.
“As a result, the drain was broken, which caused the water to overflow into the adjacent housing estates,” he said, adding that the drain would be repaired soon.
A resident and mother of one, who wished to be known as Koh, 52, said the flood damaged her daughter’s school textbooks.
“I will talk to the school authorities to see if we can get replacements,” she said.
Father of four Ahmad Firdaus Mohd Nidzar, 34, who has been living in the area for the past nine years, said his fridge, mattress and sofa were damaged.
“Many residents had to discard their wooden furniture and cabinets,” he said.
Kajang has seen several floods in recent years.
On July 19 last year, an evening downpour caused the Sungai Sekamat riverbank to collapse, sending ankle-deep floodwaters into nearby settlements.
The Selangor government had to fork out RM10mil for a deepening project that covered a 10km stretch of the river.