Why did high tide worsen the flash flood situation?

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High Tide Exacerbated Flash Floods Due to Drainage Obstruction

High tide in Selat Johor, with waves reaching between 2.7 and 2.9 meters, directly worsened the flash flood situation in Johor Baru by preventing rainwater from draining into the sea. This inability for the drainage system to discharge water, coupled with exceptionally heavy rainfall, led to significant inundation across the city. The Irrigation and Drainage Department's efforts to pump water out proved ineffective against the overwhelming volume and the high sea levels.
Drainage System Overwhelmed by Rainfall and Tide

The flash floods occurred following a prolonged period of exceptionally heavy rain, which began at 1:30 PM and lasted until 5 PM. This downpour recorded a rainfall exceeding 60 millimeters, a rate significantly higher than the typical 10 to 20 millimeters. Concurrently, the high tide in Selat Johor meant that the natural outlet for rainwater was blocked, creating a critical bottleneck in the city's drainage capacity.
Widespread Impact Across 38 Locations

The combined effect of intense rainfall and the high tide resulted in 38 distinct locations within the city being affected by flash floods. Areas particularly impacted included Jalan Ayer Molek, Jalan Kolam Air, Kampung Mohd Amin, Jalan Yahya Awal, and Dataran Bandaraya Johor Baru. The severity of the situation overwhelmed existing water management infrastructure, including the full deployment of water pumps by the Irrigation and Drainage Department, which were ultimately unable to mitigate the flooding.
State Government Allocates Increased Funding for Flood Mitigation

In response to recurring flood issues, the state government has committed substantial financial resources towards flood mitigation efforts in the Greater Johor Bahru area. For the upcoming year, an allocation of RM66.09 million has been designated for tackling floods across Johor Bahru, Iskandar Puteri, Pasir Gudang, and Kulai. This represents an increase from the RM55.01 million allocated for the current year, indicating a heightened focus on addressing the persistent challenges posed by flash floods.

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Why did high tide worsen the flash flood situation?

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