Over 160,000 People Flee Homes as Worst Flood in Decade Hits Malaysia

MOSCOW, December 27 (Sputnik) – More than 160,000 people in Malaysia have been forced to evacuate and five have been killed as the country is facing the worst flood in a decade, Sky News reported on Saturday citing local media.

Rescuers are currently operating in Malaysia's most severely-hit areas, according to the news outlet.

Earlier in the day, the Malaysian New Straits Times newspaper reported that some 120,000 people had been evacuated from flooded areas as of Friday. Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin has reportedly ordered to deploy additional logistic facilities, including helicopters, boats and vehicles to combat the disaster.

Malaysia’s severe flood is caused by heavy rainfall and started last Thursday. The country’s northeast has been affected the most, with nearly 35,000 people fleeing their homes just in the Malaysian state of Terengganu.