Forty-four people, including 37 children and seven teachers, were safely rescued after a kindergarten and nursery in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, was trapped by flash floods following heavy afternoon rain.
The incident occurred on September 30 along Jalan Muhd Amin, where rapidly rising floodwaters inundated the premises and left the children and teachers unable to leave safely.
The Johor Fire and Rescue Department received an emergency call at about 3:53 p.m. A team of 10 firefighters from the Larkin Fire and Rescue Station was dispatched to the area and arrived at approximately 4:14 p.m.
Upon reaching the scene, firefighters found 37 pupils and seven teachers trapped inside the kindergarten and nursery. A rescue operation was immediately launched, with the team using a volunteer boat to move the victims out of the flooded premises.
All 44 victims were transferred safely to the surau at Medan Selera Tepian, where they could move away from the affected area. Authorities reported that no injuries were recorded during the incident.
The rescue operation involved a Fire Rescue Tender and an Emergency Medical Rescue Services vehicle. Firefighters continued monitoring the situation as floodwaters gradually receded in parts of the city.
The flash flooding followed several hours of heavy rain in Johor Bahru. Other areas, including Jalan Kolam Air in Nong Chik, Jalan Ayer Molek and Jalan Yahya, were also affected by rising water.
Authorities said heavy rainfall placed significant pressure on the city’s drainage system. Local officials reported that rainfall reached around 60 millimetres per hour during the heaviest period, while accumulated rainfall between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. reached about 90 millimetres.
The situation was further complicated by a high tide, which reduced the ability of drainage channels to discharge water and contributed to rising water levels in several parts of Johor Bahru.
Following the flooding, authorities urged residents to remain alert and avoid areas affected by floodwaters where possible.
The incident also renewed attention on flood management in Johor Bahru, where authorities have been carrying out drainage and flood-mitigation works. Officials said additional measures are being planned to increase water-storage capacity, improve drainage infrastructure and strengthen pumping systems in vulnerable areas.
