2006–2007 Southeast Asian floods
The 2006–2007 Southeast Asian floods were a series of floods that mostly affected Malaysia from 18 December 2006 to 13 January 2007. The floods were caused by above average rainfall, which was attributed to Typhoon Utor (2006) which had hit the Philippines and Vietnam a few days earlier. By the third week of January 2007, Johor had been affected by a larger flood. Singapore and certain parts of Indonesia were flooded due to the same typhoon.
Kota Tinggi in Malaysia was severely flooded between December 2006 and January 2007. | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Duration | 18 December 2006 – 13 January 2007 |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 118 |
| Damage | $395 million |
| Areas affected | Malaysia (Johor, Malacca, Pahang and Negeri Sembilan), Singapore and Indonesia (Aceh and North Sumatra) |
Throughout the week starting 18 December 2006, a series of floods hit Johor, Malacca, Pahang and Negeri Sembilan. During this period, these southern Malaysian states, along with Singapore, experienced abnormally high rainfall which resulted in massive floods. The rainfall recorded in the city of Johor Bahru on 19 December amounted to 289mm compared to the average annual rainfall of the city which is 2400mm. In Singapore, the 24-hour rainfall recorded on 20 December was 366 mm, the third highest recorded rainfall in 75 years.
The flooding began when torrential downpours since Sunday caused rivers and dams to overflow. Weather officials described the flooding as the worst in the area in a century. At least six people died.
Later that week, beginning 22 December, North Sumatra experienced abnormally high rainfall which also caused flooding.