The Malaysia International Furniture Fair was interrupted last week when torrential rain eventually flooded the streets of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Despite the construction of a "Smart Tunnel" draining system, these flash floods have become a regular occurrence for the city.
Malaysia International Furniture Fair Flood
The trouble began in the early evening of March 3rd. The nearby river would eventually fill Hall 2 of the exhibition center with nearly four feet of water, while outside water reached depths of over 9 feet in some areas. The shows exhibitors and some display pieces, but many displays and hundreds of vehicles were destroyed.
Exhibitors were relocated to a nearby exhibition center that had not taken on significant amounts of water. It's unclear if the show will reimburse exhibitors for damage and lost sales. Special counters were set up to help exhibitors interface with potential buyers while repairs were being attempted. While damage and casualty assessments are sparse and optimistic, there is speculation that many may have been trapped in underground parking structures when the flash flood began. Over 3 inches of rain fell in the first two hours of the rainstorm, which is normally how much precipitation Kuala Lumpur sees in the entire season.
The latest reports say that Hall two is to be condemned. Hall one, which flooded with less than a foot of water, will have to be thoroughly inspected before a decision can be reached about repairs. For the time being, the MATRADE Exhibition and Convention Center will play host to future MIFF events.
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