KUALA LUMPUR, April 23 — Waking up to a waterlogged morning, residents across Klang Valley were left grappling with chaos as heavy overnight thunderstorms unleashed sudden flash floods, turning major highways into rivers and daily routines into stressful obstacles.
By early morning, the Elite Highway near the Shah Alam Interchange heading toward Seafield was already heavily flooded. PLUS Traffic confirmed at 8:32am that the left lane had been swallowed by water, causing a significant backlog and forcing frustrated motorists to scramble for alternate routes in the downpour.
The North Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE) wasn’t spared either. At Km 9.1, from Shah Alam to Subang, floodwaters covered the emergency, left, and middle lanes — paralyzing traffic all the way back to the Setia Alam Interchange. Commuters, many already late for work or school runs, found themselves stuck in a standstill with nowhere to turn.
Selangor Fire and Rescue’s Assistant Director of Operations, Ahmad Mukhlis Mukhtar, shared that the hardest-hit communities include Sungai Buloh, Petaling Jaya, and Subang Jaya — where at least 86 homes have been affected by rising waters. Thankfully, no evacuations have been necessary yet, but the situation remains tense.
For many families, it wasn’t just about traffic or soaked floors — it was the worry of what’s next. With the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) issuing thunderstorm warnings until 9am across several states including Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, and Johor, there’s growing concern that more rain could deepen the crisis.
In moments like these, the spirit of community often shines. Neighbours help bail out water. Strangers offer rides. But this morning, Klang Valley’s resilience is once again being tested — and it’s a sobering reminder of how vulnerable urban life can be when nature decides to roar.
