5 dead, over 70,000 evacuated in Malaysia floods

Residents are rescued by a boat as floodwaters rise and partially submerge a building at Dungun, Terengganu, Malaysia on Wednesday. More than 70000 were forced into relief centres, with numbers rising in Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang, according to local media. (Reuters photo)

At least five people were killed and over 70,000 rushed to evacuation centres in Malaysia after monsoon-triggered floods inundated the country's north, authorities said Wednesday.

Over 31,000 people have fled their homes in Kelantan state while more than 39,000 residents have been evacuated to temporary shelters in neighbouring Terengganu after flooding began over the weekend, the official Bernama news agency said.