High tide and rains wreak havoc in parts of Selangor

Several locations along the coastline of Selangor were thrown into chaos after high waves caused flash floods on Monday and yesterday.

A total of 224 families were evacuated since Monday night to centres in several coastal districts in the state.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (operations) Mohd Sani Harul said badly hit places in Klang such as Taman Maznah and Kampung Tok Muda, Kapar saw floodwaters rising from 50mm to 250mm.

Other affected areas were Tanjong Karang town, which saw floodwaters as high as 900mm, Pantai Kelanang, Banting (5.6m) and Pantai Remis (5.6m).

“The situation is under control today (Tuesday) and there is no serious flooding like on Monday.

“The fact that it has not been raining heavily has also helped counter the flash floods,” added Mohd Sani.

A worker clearing water at the Pulau Ketam jetty in Port Klang. — K.K. SHAM/ The Star

Kampung Bagan Sun­gai Lima New Village, which is on the same island as the Pulau Ketam village, was also not spared from the wrath of high tide, with water rising to 5.6m.

The village suffered severe damages with many of the wooden walkways getting washed away by the rising seawater.

Pulau Ketam MCA chief Chia Mong Chun said the last time water rose that high was about 18 years ago.

“The winds have been very strong this year and it is one of the factors for the flash floods,” said Chia.

Selangor Disaster Management Unit head Ahmad Fairuz Mohd Yusof said this was the first time in recent years the high tide had broken the sea bund.

He added that the high tide forecast was 5.5m but it was 5.6m when it happened.

“This was because of intermittent rainfall, wind patterns, as well as inter-monsoon seasonal rains,” he said.

Ahmad Fairuz added that those living in high-risk areas such as Kampung Tok Muda in Kapar, Kampung Tok Adam, Tanjung Karang and Kampung Sungai Air Tawar, Sabak Bernam were immediately evacuated when the water level reached 5.6m.

A motorcyclist riding through a flooded stretch of road in front of the Pulau Ketam jetty in Port Klang. — Bernamapic 

State infrastructure committee chairman Zaidy Abdul Talib said the tides had broken bunds at Kampung Sungai Serdang and Pandamaran in Port Klang; Pantai Remis and Kampung Sungai Sembilang in Kuala Selangor; and Kampung Tok Muda in Kapar.

Repair works were being carried out by the Selangor Drainage and Irrigation Department, he added.

He also said that the state government would embark on immediate measures to counter the problem.

“The state government will initiate drastic measures to repair the bunds that were broken during the high tide and subsequent flooding.

“Long-term measures such as increasing the height of the bunds will also be carried out,” he said.

He added that similar high tide had been forecast every third week of each month this year with the height of the waves expecting to be 5.7m.

“The situation will get worse if there is also rainfall during the period,” added Zaidy.

He advised people living in vulnerable areas to be cautious at all times and to be prepared in the event such flooding occurred again.