Flash flood along Jalan Tun Sambanthan.

KUALA LUMPUR: The city may see flash floods due to heavy rains brought in by the northeast monsoon, which is about to start soon.

Low lying areas, including parts of Segambut, Gombak, Lembah Pantai, Cheras and several major roads such as Jalan Kuching, were among those prone to flash floods after heavy downpours, said city Fire and Rescue Department chief operations officer Samsol Maarif Saibani.

“Kuala Lumpur rarely experiences severe floods but parts of the city can occasionally get flash floods after very heavy rains.

“Some of these areas are low-lying but in other places, there is a danger of flash floods because of a blocked drainage system,” said Samsol.

The large number of construction projects in the city could also increase chances of flash floods if the drainage in the surrounding areas were poorly maintained, he added.

Samsol said over 900 Fire and Rescue Department personnel had been put on the alert.

The personnel, equipped with boats and amphibious vehicles, will rescue, evacuate and help flood victims in Kuala Lumpur.

Some of them, said Samsol, might also be sent to other states should reinforcement be required there.

The department, he added, would usually get called along with other agencies to attend a briefing by the National Security Council with the arrival of the monsoon sometime in November.

The meeting will see them briefed on a clearer picture of the weather, the likelihood of floods and the deployment of assets.

The council, said Samsol, had yet to call for the meeting.

He advised city residents to keep their important documents safe and easily accessible should they need to take these with them in the event of an evacuation.

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