Townsville floods: 50 Malaysians safe, says Wisma Putra

Flood-affected people being evacuated from Townsville on Feb 4, 2019, as the recent downpour in Australia's tropical north has seen some areas get a year's worth of rainfall in a week. Australia's military has been deployed to tackle devastating "once-in-a-century" floods that have inundated homes, schools and airports in the country's northeast, forcing hundreds to flee and bringing crocodiles onto the streets. (Photo by STR / AFP)

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama): Fifty Malaysians, who are affected by the floods in the coastal city of Townsville in Queensland, Australia, are reported to be safe.

Wisma Putra said the situation in the affected areas remained at high risk as heavy rains were forecasted to continue for the next few days.

He said in a statement Monday (Feb 4) that Malaysians visiting or living in the affected areas were advised to exercise caution and to continue monitoring local news and weather reports.  

“Wisma Putra, through the High Commission of Malaysia in Canberra and Consulate of Malaysia in Sydney, will continue to monitor the situation and will be in close contact with the local authorities for the latest updates on the situation,” it said.  

Dubbed as a "once-in-a-century floods", the flood was caused by abnormal heavy rains during the monsoon season and it had forced thousands of residents to abandon their homes as the downpour was expected to persist.

Malaysians requiring consular assistance were advised to contact either the High Commission of Malaysia in Canberra or Consulate of Malaysia in Sydney as per details below:   

High Commission of Malaysia
7 Perth Avenue, Yarralumla ACT, 2600, Canberra 
Tel : [phone] (Nor Afzan) 
Email : [e-mail]   

Consulate/Education Malaysia
67 Victoria Road, Bellevue Hill, NSW 2023 
Tel : [phone] (Khalil Zaiyany - Education Malaysia), [phone] (Ahmad Zuriat - Mara) 
Email : [e-mail] / [e-mail] -- Bernama