Ayer Keroh assemblyman Kerk Chee Yee said the heavy rain started at about 5pm and did not last very long, but caused water in nearby rivers to reach high levels. “As of (7.34pm), the water levels in these rivers remain at high levels,” he said in a Facebook post.

Pictures of the flash floods showed cars left stranded in above knee-level waters and floodwaters entering houses in several areas.

Kerk said the affected areas in Ayer Keroh are Taman Muzaffar Shah, Taman Sutera Wangi, Lebuh Ayer Keroh/Taman Ayer Keroh Heights, Kampung Sungai Putat, Taman Seri Jati, Taman Melawis, Taman Bukit Beruang Utama, Taman Kerjasama Bukit Beruang, Ozana Residence, and Jalan Wakaf/Kampung Tun Razak.

He added that his team and government agencies are on standby in multiple locations to assist those in urgent need of help.

The DAP assemblyman called for holistic planning to resolve the issue of flash floods in the area, which he said were caused by minor factors like clogged drains and the irrigation system as well as macro issues like climate change.

Kerk also said he had requested flood prevention projects for nine of the 10 affected locations today, of which some are partially completed while others are pending approval.

Flood relief centre opened

At least 57 houses in Melaka Tengah and Alor Gajah were affected by the flash floods, according to the state disaster management committee, Bernama reported.

The floods affected 22 houses in four villages in Durian Tunggal and 28 houses in Melaka Tengah.

A temporary relief centre was opened in Ayer Keroh to evacuate the residents. Registration of flood victims was being carried out, the statement said.