Beware of flash flood danger

PETALING JAYA: Drivers, beware of the danger of flash floods during the rainy spell. As soon as you realise that you are heading into a pool of water and your car is becoming submerged, get out of the vehicle and move to a safe location.

If there is no time, break open the window and immediately climb up onto the roof of the vehicle. When you are safe, call the emergency hotline at 999.

These are among the life-saving tips offered by the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) on escaping a sinking car.

Its senior principal assistant director Farhan Sufyan Borhan said the Public Works Department or local authorities normally marked flood-prone roads with signs.

“Always obey barricades and signs that warn of road flooding. Even if the water looks shallow enough to cross, do not attempt it.

“Water can be much deeper than it appears and can hide major road hazards.

“The markers should be used by motorists to know the water level and to assess whether their vehicles can safely go through it,” said Farhan.

He cautioned that motorists must be aware of the distance and water level that might rise suddenly.

“Gushing waters can cause your vehicle to float and be swept away,” added Farhan.

“If the water current is strong despite the water being shallow, motorists should stop their vehicle at a safe spot by the roadside rather than risk it by passing through,” he noted.

On Sunday, an alert driver quickly climbed out of his car’s window when he saw water suddenly gushing into a road tunnel near Jalan Tun Razak, KL, during heavy rain that evening.

The 26-year-old man, identified as Teh, said he was really scared and decided to stay put by sitting on his Honda Civic roof before rescuers came.

Four other vehicles were also stranded in the tunnel.

Farhan said that although there were “water resistant” vehicles which could stop floodwaters from entering, it was still risky to drive through.