Flooding hits eastern Malaysia

By Jonathan Kent
BBC, Kuala Lumpur

Eleven people are reported to have died and more than 10,000 have been evacuated after flooding hit the east coast of peninsula Malaysia.

Heavy rain left towns and villages in the states of Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang under up to 2m of water.

Meteorologists are predicting the situation - already described as the worst flooding in more than a decade - is likely to get worse.

The city of Kota Baru has been one of the worst hit.

Five people died after the Kelantan river burst its banks, while some 5,000 are sheltering in government reception centres.

Seven other rivers in the region are reported to be nearing danger levels.

Terrible choice

In the state of Terengganu, almost 4,000 people have been moved from their homes as roads have been washed away.

One man described how he was faced with the choice of rescuing his two young sons or his wife after their car became trapped in rising flood waters.

He took his children to safety but when he returned, his car and his wife had disappeared.

In Pahang, the most southerly of the three states, the government has opened 10 centres to receive evacuees.

Weather forecasters are warning that the situation is likely to get worse as more heavy rain is expected.