If there is no time, break open the window and immediately climb up onto the roof of the vehicle. When you are safe, call the emergency hotline at 999.
These are among the life-saving tips offered by the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) on escaping a sinking car.
Its senior principal assistant director Farhan Sufyan Borhan said the Public Works Department or local authorities normally marked flood-prone roads with signs.
“Water can be much deeper than it appears and can hide major road hazards.
“The markers should be used by motorists to know the water level and to assess whether their vehicles can safely go through it,” said Farhan.
He cautioned that motorists must be aware of the distance and water level that might rise suddenly.
“Gushing waters can cause your vehicle to float and be swept away,” added Farhan.
“If the water current is strong despite the water being shallow, motorists should stop their vehicle at a safe spot by the roadside rather than risk it by passing through,” he noted.
On Sunday, an alert driver quickly climbed out of his car’s window when he saw water suddenly gushing into a road tunnel near Jalan Tun Razak, KL, during heavy rain that evening.
The 26-year-old man, identified as Teh, said he was really scared and decided to stay put by sitting on his Honda Civic roof before rescuers came. Four other vehicles were also stranded in the tunnel.
Farhan said that although there were “water resistant” vehicles which could stop floodwaters from entering, it was still risky to drive through.
According to the Malaysian Meteorological Department, the north-east monsoon, which has just started, is expected to last until March.
Heavy rainfall will occur across the country, especially in east coast states and in the west of Sarawak.
“Damp weather conditions with rainfall exceeding 500mm is expected in most places in Kelantan and Terengganu,” the department stated in a report uploaded on its website. “Rainfall in the north of the peninsula is expected to be less than 300mm. Other places in the peninsula are expected to receive between 200mm and 250mm of rainfall,” the report stated.
On Sunday, department director-general Alui Bahari said the first three months of the monsoon would be the worst.
“If heavy rainfall, high tides and strong winds occur, it could cause rivers to overflow,” he was quoted as saying. The situation could be worsened by spring tides that take place during the new and full moons.
