KUALA LUMPUR: The flash flood which hit Seremban town on Nov 10 was due to unusually heavy rain, with 114mm falling from 5pm to 8pm, the Dewan Rakyat was told on Monday.
Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said clogged drains and a poor drainage system hampered the movement of water towards the Temiang river, resulting in an overflow at main roads in the town.
“The floodwaters subsided after 40 minutes. (In housing areas, the flood) was caused by a poor drainage system, which could not accommodate excessive running water capacity during heavy rains.
"The flash flood only occurred for three hours and fully receded (after) 8pm," he said in a reply to a question from Teo Kok Seong (DAP-Rasah) during ministers’ question time in the Dewan Rakyat.
He added that the state government has carried out large-scale cleaning of rubbish indiscriminately disposed of by the public, which led to drains being clogged.
Teo had asked the Natural Resources and Environment Minister to state in detail the causes of the severe flood in Seremban town, Taman Jesper Jaya, Taman Mutiara Galla and other areas on Nov 10; and the measures being taken by the government to mitigate floods and ensure that relief aid had reached all victims.
Wan Junaidi added that there are 107 flash flood hotspots in Negri Sembilan.
“We have a plan to widen the Linggi river with a RM75 million (project) and hopefully, it will help solve the flash flood issue,” he said.
The deluge had struck low-lying areas of the town and surrounding residential districts, temporarily paralysing the communities there. Reporting by FARHANA SYED NOKMAN, FERNANDO FONG AND ARFA YUNUS