Over 300 people evacuated in Selangor due to high tide phenomenon

KLANG: A portion of the river bund in Sungai Keramat collapsed Sunday morning due to high tide, flooding more than 10 village houses at Kampung Sementa, Batu 5, in Jalan Kapar here.

Eight cars were also damaged after floodwaters gushed into the villagers’ homes in Jalan Kebun Baru, situated right next to the river.

Residents said the tree trunks that were used as part of the bund had given way at about 5.30am, causing the water to overflow into the village.

Khuriah Mohd Sahmsi, 47, said she was awakened by her neighbours and could only watch the floodwaters seeped into her home.

“My neighbour was going around nearby houses to alert everyone about the rising water that rose quickly to the level of my thigh near the kitchen.

“I quickly moved my car to higher ground but I did not manage to save much things inside my house except for important documents because the flashfloods, which was not due to heavy rain, came too sudden.

“I have to use an electric pump to pump out the water,” she said when met here.

As Khuriah was busy scooping out water from the living hall, the single mother said her home had been hit with flashfloods three times this year following downpour.

She hoped the authorities would take appropriate action to make things right.

A resident, who only wished to be known as Mohammad, said that the bund started to wear out since mid-September and little was done to improve it.

“Some officials came early this month and the bund, which was built using tree trunks and covered with soil, were repaired. 

But it was not strong enough to withstand high tides.

“We hope the authorities will repair it swiftly because we are worried over the coming high tides on Monday and Tuesday,” he said, adding that many villagers were mulling to relocate to an evacuation centre for temporary shelter.

Zaiton Abdul Rahman, 55, who was awakened by her siblings, breathed a sigh of relief as she managed to save her only cow from being drowned.

“The cow was tied to a tree outside and all its legs were already in the water when I got to her. Luckily I managed to quickly untie the cow and brought it further away,” she said.

Rozita Bahar, 47, said that water rose to her knee and her bed and mattress were damaged, among other furniture.

According to information from the National Hydrographic Centre in Port Klang, the tide was recorded at 5.6m at 5.50am, while floodwaters rose to 0.6m.

Selangor Disaster Management Committee secretary Kol Ahmad Afandi Mohamad said that as of 11.30am, 26 evacuation centres have been activated in the state.

“Seventy-nine families are displaced so far,” he said, adding that the Dewan Kg Tok Muda evacuation centre in Kapar recorded the most number of evacuees with 53 families.