Four people drown in floods in north-eastern Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR: At least four people drowned in floods that have hit north-eastern Malaysia during the past three days and more than 25,000 people have fled to evacuation centres, welfare and rescue officials said Saturday.
All four fatalities were from the state of Kelantan where more than 15,640 people have left their homes and several roads were impassable due to floods brought about by heavy rains, the Kelantan state fire and rescue department said.
Among the fatalities was a 20-month-old baby girl who fell into the floodwaters late Thursday after she slipped from her mother's arms.
The infant's body has not been found.
In the adjacent state of Terengganu, 8,709 people were staying in 123 evacuation centres due to the floods.
A total of more than 1,000 people have also abandoned their homes in the states of Johor and Pahang due to the floods.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department on Saturday warned that intermittent and occasionally heavy rains will persist in Kelantan and Terengganu. – dpa