(Kuala Lumpur, July 18) A sudden and intense downpour swept across the Klang Valley this afternoon, triggering a severe KL flash flood that hit several areas, with Petaling Jaya bearing the brunt of the damage.
The worst-affected zones included Petaling Jaya, Kelana Jaya and Damansara, where floodwaters rose rapidly along major roads, submerging vehicles up to half their body height. Motorists were forced to crawl through the rising waters, and many chose to park their cars in indoor car parks to avoid damage. Traffic along the affected stretches ground to a near standstill. A Threads user warned other drivers to avoid the area, noting that this round of flooding appeared worse than usual, with noticeably deeper water levels. The outdoor dining area of Mid Valley Megamall was also inundated, leaving the scene in disarray, while nearby Jalan Gasing reported similar flooding. Bukit Lanjan in Shah Alam and old Jalan Gasing in Kuala Lumpur were likewise affected, with parts of Shah Alam sounding flood sirens by evening.
The most talked-about flood spot was the popular Medan Selera Jaya 223 hawker centre in Petaling Jaya, long known as a flood hotspot. Floodwaters there reportedly reached as high as 2 metres. Selangor Fire and Rescue Department operations assistant director Asrulriza said the department received a report at 4:35pm and dispatched 12 firefighters from the Petaling Jaya station, arriving roughly 20 minutes later to find the water at its peak of 2 metres, though it had already begun to recede. No one was trapped or injured, and no evacuation was required. This marked the third time this year the hawker centre has flooded, following incidents on April 20 (waist-high water) and May 6 (about 1.2 metres, submerging several cars in the parking area), making today’s 2-metre flood the worst of the year so far.
Separately, a large tree collapsed in Kampung Batu 3, Bandar Sungai Long, on the same afternoon. Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director Asrul said the department received an emergency call at 4:18pm and dispatched nine firefighters and a fire engine, arriving at 4:40pm. Two trees had fallen and blocked the road, while another fell onto a residential home. Firefighters used chainsaws to clear the trees, bringing the situation under control by 4:45pm with no reported casualties.
According to the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS), as of 8:15pm, three rivers across four monitoring stations in Selangor had exceeded alert levels, including Sungai Bagan in Petaling Jaya and Sungai Rasau and Sungai Penchala in Klang, prompting authorities to urge residents in affected areas to prepare for possible evacuation. The Malaysian Meteorological Department also issued a weather warning at 4:40pm, forecasting continued thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong winds over Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya until 7pm, with the alert extending to several other states including Perak, Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor, Sarawak, Sabah and Labuan.
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