Octogenarian almost washed away by strong waves battering east coast

KOTA BARU: An octogenarian almost died after huge waves battered his home at Kampung Kundor here on Sunday.

Yusof Taib, 80, said he was almost washed away when the waves hit the walls of his 40-year-old home at 6pm.

"The waves were very huge and were strong enough to bring down the wooden walls and windows and there was not enough time to do anything but to hold on the pillars in the house.

"I was sitting in the living room when the waves hit as the house is only situated 2m from the beach.

"It was so powerful that I was flung to the living room with water and sand submerging the house. I was lucky as I held on the pillar, " said Yusof at SK Pantai Kundur flood relief center on Monday.

The father of 11 children added that this was the second time the high tide hit his home, with the first occurring on Jan 26.

He said he had just moved back into the house three days ago after that incident.

This time around he and his family are expected to stay at the relief center longer as his house was totally damaged.

He is taking shelter at the center with 17 other families

The phenomenon has wreaked havoc along the east coast in the past few days

Huge waves on Sunday night along the coastal stretch in Mengabang Telipot and in Kemaman, both in Terengganu severely battered village houses along the coastline.

The heavy battering by the monstrous waves measuring some 4.5m resulted in two village houses being partly destroyed, several others slightly damaged with 67 people from both districts being evacuated.

As of 4pm on Monday, four families comprising of 29 people from Kampung Tengah, in Mengabang Telipot, were temporarily taking shelter with their relatives meanwhile 38 other villagers from Kemasik and Kampung Geliga in Kemaman were evacuated to three evacuation centres.

According to the Meteorological Department, coastal villagers can expect strong waves as high as 4.5m and winds up to 60kph until tonight.