PETALING JAYA: The flash floods in several states have pushed people to use social media to call for assistance.
Using the hashtag #banjirdarurat, various calls for help have been made on Twitter and Facebook since Saturday (Dec18) night to rescue people as well as animals from the floods.
Twitter user Hafiz Rahim (@hafizmdrahim) tweeted pictures of a family - including an elderly lady- floating in a black polyethene tank, requesting help from Kampung Tengah in Puchong, Selangor.
In the Twitter thread, it was mentioned that the family needed food and was without electricity
Fortunately, at about 4.48am, Hafiz tweeted that the family received help and was evacuated with others to a safer location.
Another Twitter user rramyaa_ (@theramss2) tweeted that a family with a one-year-old baby in Taman Sri Muda, Shah Alam needed assistance
"It’s an emergency now. The water level is at 11-12 feet. No rescue team yet. 3:48am Water start to enter at second floor and getting higher now. (sic)," she tweeted.
Meanwhile, Twitter user #StaySafe 2022 (@mhmdamirkhalil) posted a Twitter thread of people "stranded" at the Mosque and Dewan Dewan Kosmos in U8, Bukit Jelutong Timur at about 10.24pm on Saturday night
While initially calling for help, he later posted pictures of people setting up a temporary shelter for the night at the mosque and community hall.
Another Twitter user - Iylham Yushaak (@Iylham) -has posted a list of numbers to assist in his tweet
"I feel so hopeless but I do what I do best, A LIST; OF SEARCH & RESCUE. HOPEFULLY DAPAT MEMBANTU ANYONE. TOLONG RT. (sic)" he tweeted.
The continuous downpour in several states since Friday (Dec 17) has caused flash floods in housing areas and main roads.
Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob was reported saying that 453 vehicle and logistics assets from various agencies, including the Civil Defence Force, the police, the armed forces, the Fire and Rescue Department and the Health Ministry have been mobilised to assist victims, with a strength of 2,817 personnel.
As of 11 pm on Saturday (Dec 18), 188 relief centres, housing 11,384 evacuees from 4,500 families, have been opened in six states affected by floods following the heavy downpour.