Floods: Two more fatalities recorded in Johor, death toll now at three

SEGAMAT: The floods in Johor have recorded two more deaths involving two senior citizens who were neighbours at Jalan Kwongsai in Chaah here.

The two victims have been identified as 78-year-old Lee Amo Yee and Tan Sue Ke, 74, who were found trapped inside their respective homes.

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Segamat OCPD Supt Ahmad Zamry Marinsah said a rescue team had carried out a search at the area after receiving information from their respective children.

“Due to the floods, we lost two lives. A male and a female victim were trapped inside their own homes where their bodies were found at 11am on Thursday (March 2) morning.

“When the flood waters had receded and with information from the two victims' families, we carried out checks at the two houses along Jalan Kwongsai where we found their bodies,” he said.

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Supt Ahmad Zamry added that the incident is believed to have occurred when the flood water rose to about 2m high suddenly on Wednesday (March 1).

He said the flood water had reached the roof level at the victims' residences, which was located near the Chaah police station.

“The victims stayed alone in their respective homes, which are located 400m apart. During the incident, they could not escape to safety in time as the water rose quickly,” he added.

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Supt Ahmad Zamry said the victims’ bodies have been sent to Segamat Hospital for a post mortem and the case was classified as sudden death.

With the latest incident, this bring the total number of deaths due to the floods in Johor to three.

On Wednesday, the first flood casualty in Johor was recorded in Kluang after a man was found dead inside a car that is believed to have been swept away by floodwaters at Jalan GSA Chamek, Paloh, near here.

Kluang police chief Asst Comm Bahrin Mohd Noh said the 20-year-old victim was driving to work at a palm oil processing factory nearby when floodwaters swept the car away at about 7.20am.

“Search and rescue efforts were carried out and at 12.20pm, the car was found submerged in floodwaters.

“Upon inspecting the car, a man was found dead inside. The body of the victim was later sent to Hospital Enche’ Besar Hajjah Khalsom in Kluang for a post-mortem,” he said.