Flood waters receding in most parts of Terengganu

HULU TERENGGANU: Flood waters in most parts of the state have receded and the locals are praying fervently that things stay that way.

Rain during the night momentarily saw residents in low-lying areas evacuated to flood relief centres.

However, the situation improved vastly that by 6pm yesterday only 1,108 people are still left in the shelters. At the height of the floods, there were over 10,000 people in these centres.

All relief centres in the once worst hit areas, Besut and Hulu Terengganu, are officially closed. All roads have also been reopened to vehicles.

The two newly opened relief centres are in Kuala Nerus and Kuala Terengganu.

“The flood waters are receding but I’m still very anxious and worried if it rains again. The waters may rise again at any time.

“I really hope the weather changes for the better very soon,” said 41-year-old Faridah Latiff who runs a food stall in Kampung Matang here.

Fifteen-year-old SMK Matang student Ahmad Syafiq Aiman Muhammad said he was frightened by the fast flowing waters which flooded his house.

“There’s an old Malay belief that says these big floods come seven times in a year and we’ve already been through four. I really hope that doesn’t come true because it is very scary,” he said.

During his visit to the SK Tengkawang flood relief centre, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said he was happy with the cooperation and coordination shown by the state government and hoped the weather would continue to improve.

He also said that homes destroyed in the recent floods would be repaired under the Jiwa Murni programme, a collaboration between the army and the private sector.

He also announced a RM50,000 donation to families at the relief centre.