Morning downpour causes flash floods, traffic jams in Klang and Shah Alam

KLANG: Several parts of Klang and Shah Alam were inundated by flood waters following several hours of heavy rain early Tuesday.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations Mohd Sani Harul said the department started receiving distress calls as early as 5am.

The worst hit locations were low lying residential estates and areas.

Traffic on the Federal Highway leading out of Klang was reduced to a crawl at press time.

The worst hit areas were the Bukit Raja flyover, Sungai Rasau toll and Padang Jawa.

Residents in Taman Rasah and Bandar Bukit Raja were also unable to leave for work after flood water rose up to about three feet in the area.

Other areas that were flooded are Taman Bukit Kemuning and Kg Bukit Naga both in Section 32, Shah Alam.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of Operations Mohd Sani Harul said water level at these two locations were between 100 to 200mm.

He added that the flooding was made worse by the high tide in Klang's coastal area.

However, the situation was under control after water levels in Sungai Rasau started to recede.

He added that Taman Maznah in Klang was also badly hit by flood waters which stood at 300mm to 600mm.

No evacuations were carried out in any of the areas after water started receding at a steady pace.

Firemen also rescued a lorry driver and his assistant who were trapped in their vehicle after it stalled in the floodwaters at Aeon Bukit Raja almost immediately after firemen and engines were deployed.

Selangor traffic police were also on the ground to control and manage the chaos created by congestion in several road stretches leading out of Klang which were closed early in the morning when water levels started rising.

Many road users who were on the way out of Klang early in the morning were caught and some even stranded in massive traffic congestion due to several road closures.

Selangor traffic chief Supt Kamaludin Mohamad said the roads that are closed were Jalan Sungai Rasau, KM3.5 of Shahpadu Highway towards Shah Alam, Jalan Rajawali, Klang and the stretch from the Sungai Rasau toll plaza to the Shahpadu traffic light.

According to SMRG Traffic, Persiaran Setia Alam was also backed up to the NKVE due to flash floods near the Setia Alam toll.