Waves crash into homes

KUALA NERUS: Huge waves caused severe erosion along the coastal stretch in Mengabang Telipot here – damaging several houses and for­cing nine families to be evacuated.

The affected villagers, compri­sing 37 people from nine families, were from Kampung Tanjung Ge­­lam and Kampung Tengah. They are staying with their relatives.

Terengganu Civil Defence Depart­ment deputy director (operations) Mejar Amirsarifudin Zalman said the residents of the coastal villages had been advised to stay alert.

“According to the Meteorological Department, coastal villagers can expect strong waves as high as 5m and winds up to 60kph,” he said yesterday.

Apart from the victims, other resi­­dents along the coastal areas are also living in fear as the waves had broken through the barriers.

Many families are undecided on whether to move out as they are concerned about their belongings.

Fisherman Abdullah Mat Isa, 52, from Kampung Tanjung Gelam whose house was partially destroy­ed, said the strong waves he saw yesterday were the worst in the 19 years he’d lived there.

“I was watching TV in the hall at about 5pm when I saw the waves getting stronger. At about 9.30pm, they were smashing against the kitchen wall. All of a sudden, the kitchen wall collapsed,” he added.

Abdullah said his wife, Hani Awi, 45, and 18-year-old daughter ran out of the house, fearing that the house would collapse.

“We gathered all important documents and moved to a relative’s house,” he added.

Keropok seller Kamariah @ Iman Abu Bakar saw her processing barn destroyed by the strong waves.

The erosion caused by the waves also saw coconut trees along the beach uprooted.