FLOOD DISASTER IN PERLIS, KEDAH, KELANTAN AND TERENGGANU
IN DECEMBER 2005

Introduction
The flood disaster that affected the northern states of Peninsular Malaysia in mid December 2005 had caused damages and property losses worth millions of ringgit. Many flood victims were evacuated from their homes to the safer relief centres.


Anaysis Of Rainfall Distributions

Heavy rain in Perlis and Kedah that reached its peak on 17 December 2005 had caused flooding for several days in Perlis and Kedah since that date. Moreover, Perlis and Kedah had recorded rain that far exceeded the average monthly rainfall since November and mid December 2005. Heavy rain that started falling on 15 December 2005 and peaked on 17 December 2005 was the main factor causing the severe flooding after being strongly influenced by the extension and intensification of the northeast monsoon trough and monsoon disturbance vortex which extended to the northern Peninsular states.

Based upon the rainfall measurement readings, weather satellite imageries and radar echoes recorded by Malaysian Meteorological Department (MMD), it has been noted that (i) Kelantan and Terengganu experienced widespread heavy rain from 14 till 17 December 2005 and scattered moderate rain from 21 till 26 December 2005 and (ii) Kedah and Perlis received widespread heavy rain from 15 till 17 December 2005 and scattered moderate rain from 21 till 22 December 2005. Even though Kelantan and Terengganu usually receive this kind of heavy rainfall, the total rainfall received by Perlis and Kedah from 15 till 17 December 2005 was still quite unusual for this year’s northeast monsoon.

Table 1: Comparison of November and December rainfalls with the average values (long term statistics) of monthly November and December rainfalls.

Heavy Rain Warning

The Central Forecast Office (CFO) of MMD monitors the weather conditions and developments continuously, 24/7(24 hours daily and 7 days weekly). Thus MMD has been able to detect, monitor and forecast these heavy rain episodes which caused the floods.

MMD started issuing the first heavy rainfall warning for Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang on 12 December 2005 and for Perlis and Northern Kedah on 15 December 2005. Subsequently, MMD continuously updated the heavy rainfall/thunderstorm warnings for the affected states, including Perak, until the heavy rain episodes had diminished or stopped.

Flood situation in Alor Setar, Kedah on 20 December 2005. Source: NST

Flood at Jalan Raja Syed Alwi, Kangar, Perlis on 20 December 2005. Source: NST

Flood situation at Tambatan Diraja, Kelantan on 18 December 2005. Source: NST

Flood at Setiu, Terengganu on 18 December 2005. Source: NST

MTSAT Satellite imagery taken at 8.33 am on 15 December 2005 shows heavy rain (red and white colour) over northern Peninsular Malaysia

MTSAT Satellite imagery taken at 8.33 am on 16 December 2005 shows rain had greatly diminished over Peninsular Malaysia

MTSAT Satellite imagery taken at 8.33 am on 17 December 2005 shows heavy rain (red and white colour) occurring over northern and East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia

MTSAT Satellite imagery taken at 8.33 am on 18 December 2005 shows rain had greatly diminished over Peninsular Malaysia

MTSAT Satellite imagery taken at 8.33 am on 19 December 2005 shows no thick clouds thus rain had greatly diminished over Peninsular Malaysia