Evacuation centres opened in several states following floods

KLANG: Ten houses at Kampung Sementa, Batu 5, in Jalan Kapar here were flooded after the rising tide broke a portion of the bund along Sungai Keramat.

Eight cars were also damaged after floodwaters flowed into the villagers’ homes yesterday morning in Jalan Kebun Baru next to the river.

Residents said tree trunks used as part of the bund gave way at about 5.30am, causing the rising water to overflow into the village.

Khuriah Mohd Sahmsi, 47, was awakened by her neighbours and watched in despair as the floodwaters seeped into her home.

“My neighbour went to the nearby houses to alert everyone about the rising water.

Helping hands: Residents helping to clean a flood victim’s house after the high tide struck at Kampung Sementa. 

“I moved my car to higher ground but could not save many things inside my house except for important documents,” she said.

The single mother added that her home had been hit by flash floods three times this year.

A resident, who wanted to be known only as Mohammad, said the bund started to erode around mid-September.

“Some officials came earlier this month and the bund, which was built using tree trunks and covered with soil, was repaired. But it was not strong enough to withstand the current high tides.

“We hope the authorities will repair it fast because we are worried about the high tides,” he said, adding that many villagers were mulling whether to relocate to the evacuation centre.

Rozita Bahar, 47, said the floodwaters rose up to her knee and damaged her furniture.

According to the National Hydro­graphic Centre in Port Klang, the tide hit at a level of 5.6m at 5.50am, while the floodwaters rose to 0.6m.

Selangor Disaster Management Committee secretary Kol Ahmad Afandi Mohamad said that as of 8.45am, 26 evacuation centres had been activated in the state.

Seventy-nine families had been displaced so far, he said, adding that the Dewan Kampung Tok Muda evacuation centre in Kapar had the highest number of evacuees with 53 families.

In Pantai Remis, the sea level at Kampung Bagan Panchor rose after 2.30am, damaging the bund and causing the main roads to become inundated in water which rose up to 300m, reported Bernama.

In Bagan Datoh, five areas were flooded since 4am but no houses were affected, said the district’s Disaster Committee chairman Datuk Hamzah Hussin.

In Perai, checks at Kampung Manis showed that floodwaters had risen up to 0.3m from 1am.