(Kuala Lumpur, July 18) The Malaysian Meteorological Department issued a wide-reaching weather warning at 4:40pm today amid an intensifying KL flash flood, forecasting continued thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong winds over Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya until 7pm, with the alert extending across eight states nationwide.
According to the department, affected areas in Selangor include Kuala Selangor, Klang, Ampang, Petaling, Kuala Langat and Sepang, while the warning also covers Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor, Sarawak, Sabah and Labuan — underscoring how widespread today’s severe weather has been.
The warning followed a sudden, intense downpour that struck the Klang Valley this afternoon, triggering severe flash flooding across several locations, with Petaling Jaya bearing the brunt. Areas including Petaling Jaya, Kelana Jaya and Damansara saw major roads submerged rapidly, with water levels reaching ankle height for pedestrians and half the height of parked cars. Motorists crawled through rising waters or diverted into indoor car parks, and traffic ground to a standstill along affected stretches. The outdoor dining area at Mid Valley Megamall was also flooded, with nearby Jalan Gasing reporting similar conditions, while Bukit Lanjan in Shah Alam and old Jalan Gasing in Kuala Lumpur were also affected, prompting flood sirens in parts of Shah Alam by evening.
The most closely watched flood site was the Medan Selera Jaya 223 hawker centre in Petaling Jaya, a known flood-prone location, where water levels surged to 2 metres — its worst flooding this year. Selangor Fire and Rescue Department operations assistant director Asrulriza said a report was received at 4:35pm, with 12 firefighters dispatched and arriving roughly 20 minutes later to find water at its peak, though already receding. No injuries or trapped individuals were reported. This marked the hawker centre’s third flood of the year, following incidents in April and May.
Separately, a fallen tree incident struck Kampung Batu 3 in Bandar Sungai Long the same afternoon, with two trees blocking a road and a third striking a residential home. Nine firefighters responded and cleared the debris by 4:45pm, with no casualties.
The Department of Irrigation and Drainage also confirmed that, as of 8:15pm, three rivers across four monitoring stations in Selangor had exceeded alert levels, urging residents in affected areas to remain vigilant and prepare for possible evacuation.