Thousands evacuated amid Malaysian floods

Rescuers retrieved families trapped on rooftops and evacuated others to safety as villages and towns in parts of Malaysia were submerged in floodwaters, leading to over 26,000 people being evacuated as of Thursday.

One person died when his car was swept away by floodwaters. The southern Johor state was the worst hit with some 25,000 people moved to relief centers in schools and community halls. The country is experiencing its sixth episode of continuous heavy rain from the annual monsoon season that started in November, the Meteorological Department said, warning it could drag on until April.