East coast flooding gets worse

HULU TERENGGANU: Floods in the east coast took a turn for the worse, forcing the evacuation of thousands in Terengganu and Kelantan and closing down schools and roads.

In Terengganu, a downpour lashed the state continuously since Friday night, causing 3,058 people in six districts to be evacuated. The water rose as high as 1.5m.

The worst-hit district was Hulu Terengganu with 1,894 victims from 631 families evacuated to 21 centres.

It will be a bleak New Year for restaurant operator Ibrahim Muda from Ajil as his house and shop were both inundated.

“As I was trying to secure important documents to move to the relief centre, a friend rushed over to say that floodwaters had also entered my restaurant.

“I am sure the wooden tables, chairs and other electrical appliances have been damaged.

“I was hoping for a great start to 2017,’’ he lamented.

Sunira Musaraini Mustafa and husband Saiful Nizam Ismail, 35, from Kampung Bukit Kolam in Ajil said they were thankful to their nine cats for giving them a “wake-up call”.

“We were surprised to hear all our caged cats mewing aloud at about 5am. It’s like they knew the floodwaters were fast approaching our house.

“When we checked, the river had overflowed and we quickly move our stuff,’’ said Sunira.

State Civil Defence Force director Lt-Kol Che Adam A. Rahman said flood victims from Hulu Terengganu had started moving to relief centres from about 4.30am yesterday.

“Heavy rainfall also caused some roads in Hulu Terengganu, Marang, Kemaman and Besut to be closed, some to all and others to just light vehicles,’’ he added.

Twenty-five schools from five districts in Terengganu would remain closed until further notice, state Education Department director Shafruddin Ali Hussin said.

He said of these, 22 were located in Hulu Terengganu.

The 19 primary schools which will remain closed on the first day of school for 2017 are SK Teris, SK Tapah, SK Tengkawang, SK Kuala Ping, SK Kua, SK Padang Setebu, SK Sungai Berua, SK Sungai Buloh, SK Kuala Jenderis, SK Matang, SK Lubuk Periuk, SK Bukit Tadok, SK Nibong, SK Betong, SK Pereh, SK Felda Tersat, SK Menerong, SK Cheting, SK Padang Setar.

The three secondary schools affected are SMK Bukit Diman, SMK Menering and SMK Kuala Jenderis.

Meanwhile, an outing among eight friends almost turned tragic when two of them who were swept by strong undercurrents almost drowned.

One of them, Muazzam Shah Mahani, 20, said he almost lost his younger brother Muqri Shah and his friend known as Din.

It all started when the eight from Kampung Kolam in Ajil awoke in the morning to find floodwaters outside their homes.

They decided to have fun, by floating on huge tyre and in the swollen river.

“When we reached the bridge, seven of us had let go of the float to swim. All of a sudden I saw my friend Din struggling to reach the riverbank as the undercurrent was too strong.

“I turned around and saw my younger brother too was struggling on the other side but he managed to cling on again to the float,” Muazzam said, adding that he had to swim to get hold of Din who almost drowned.

By SHARANPAL SINGH RANDHAWA

[e-mail]

HULU TERENGGANU: Floods in the east coast took a turn for the worse, forcing the evacuation of thousands in Terengganu and Kelantan and closing down schools and roads.

In Terengganu, a downpour lashed the state continuously since Friday night, causing 3,058 people in six districts to be evacuated. Waters rose as high as 1.5m.

The worst hit district was Hulu Terengganu with 1,894 victims from 631 families evacuated to 21 centres.

It will be a bleak New Year for restaurant operator Ibrahim Muda from Ajil as his house and shop were both inundated.

“As I was trying to secure important documents to move to the relief centre, a friend rushed over to say that flood waters had also entered my restaurant. I am sure the wooden tables, chairs and other electrical appliances have been damaged.

“I was hoping for a great start to 2017,’’ he lamented. Sunira Musaraini Mustafa and husband Saiful Nizam Ismail, 35, from Kampung Bukit Kolam in Ajil said they were thankful to their nine cats for giving them a “wake up call”.

“We were surprised to hear all our caged cats ‘meowing’ aloud at about 5am. It’s like they knew the flood waters were fast approaching our house.

“When we checked, the river had overflowed and we quickly move our stuff,’’ said Sunira.

State Civil Defence Force director Lt Kol Che Adam A. Rahman said flood victims from Hulu Terengganu had started moving to relief centres from about 4.30am yesterday.

“Heavy rainfall also caused some roads in Hulu Terengganu, Marang, Kemaman and Besut to be closed, some to all and others to just light vehicles,’’ he added.

Twenty-five schools from five districts in Terengganu will remain closed until further notice, State Education Department director Shafruddin Ali Hussin said.

He said of these, 22 were located in Hulu Terengganu. The 19 primary schools which will remain closed on the first day of school for 2017 are SK Teris, SK Tapah, SK Tengkawang, SK Kuala Ping, SK Kua, SK Padang Setebu, SK Sungai Berua, SK Sungai Buloh, SK Kuala Jenderis, SK Matang, SK Lubuk Periuk, SK Bukit Tadok, SK Nibong, SK Betong, SK Pereh, SK Felda Tersat, SK Menerong, SK Cheting, SK Padang Setar.

The three secondary schools affected are SMK Bukit Diman, SMK Menering and SMK Kuala Jenderis.

Meanwhile, an outing among eight friends almost turned tragic when two of them who were swept by strong undercurrents almost drowned.

One of them, Muazzam Shah Mahani, 20, said he almost lost his younger brother Muqri Shah and his friend known as Din.

It all started when the eight from Kampung Kolam in Ajil awoke in the morning to find the outside of their homes flooded.

They decided to have fun, by floating on huge tire and in the swollen river.

“When we reached the bridge, seven of us had let go of the float to swim. All of a sudden I saw my friend Din struggling to reach the riverbank as the undercurrent was too strong.

“I turned around and saw my younger brother too was struggling on the other side but he managed to cling on again to the float,” Muazzam said, adding that he had to swim to get hold of Din who almost drowned.