Flooding forces 10,000 to evacuate in Malaysia

Officials say floods caused by heavy monsoon rains have forced more than 10,000 people to evacuate their homes and several schools to close in northern Malaysia.

An official at the flood monitoring centre in northern Kedah state says more than 7,800 people were staying in shelters on Tuesday. She says several rivers in the state have swollen to dangerous levels fed by seasonal rains.

Another official with the National Flood Monitoring Centre says more than 2,200 people in another northern state, Perlis, were evacuated. Both officials declined to be named because they are not authorized to make public statements.

The Star newspaper reports 11 schools were closed in Perlis on Tuesday.Flooding forces 10,000 to KUALA LUMPUR: Officials say floods caused by heavy monsoon rains have forced more than 10,000 people to evacuate their homes and several schools to close in northern Malaysia.

An official at the flood monitoring centre in northern Kedah state says more than 7,800 people were staying in shelters on Tuesday. She says several rivers in the state have swollen to dangerous levels fed by seasonal rains.

Another official with the National Flood Monitoring Centre says more than 2,200 people in another northern state, Perlis, were evacuated. Both officials declined to be named because they are not authorized to make public statements.

The Star newspaper reports 11 schools were closed in Perlis on Tuesday.