Malaysia and Thailand face a second wave of heavy rains and potential flooding this week, authorities said Monday, as some displaced residents were able to return home and the worst flooding in decades began to recede in certain regions.
Since last week, 27 people have died and more than half a million homes in neighboring Southeast Asian countries have been hit by torrential rains and floods that authorities say have been the worst serious for decades.
The immediate situation has improved in some areas and water levels have fallen, according to government data on Monday.
In Malaysia, the number of people in evacuation shelters fell to around 128,000 people, from 152,000 on Sunday, according to the disaster management agency's website.
The worst-hit northeastern state of Kelantan is expected to face another deluge from December 4, the chief minister's office said in a Facebook post on Sunday.
“Although the flood water trends show a slight decrease, (the chief minister) emphasized that vigilance measures must remain at the highest level,” the message said.
Meanwhile, in southern Thailand, 434,000 households remain affected, the country's interior ministry said in a statement Monday, a drop of around 100,000 households from last weekend.
The government has provided food and supplies to residents in flood-hit areas, the ministry said, adding that water levels in seven provinces were falling.
Thailand's meteorological department said residents in the south of the country should be wary of heavy to very heavy rain and possible flash and overflow flooding, particularly along foothills near rivers and low-lying areas, between 3 and December 5.
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