Rainy season hits Johor, beginning with Pontian and Skudai

JOHOR BARU: The rainy season is starting to creep into Johor. A bout of heavy afternoon showers caused a few villages in Skudai to experience flash floods, a day after parts of Pontian were hit by floods.

Among the affected areas were Kampung Maju Jaya, Kampung Laut Skudai, Kampung Paya Kenangan, Kampung Kangkar Tebrau as well as some parts of Jalan Skudai.

A flood relief centre was opened at 5pm at the Kampung Paya Kenangan multi-purpose hall to house a family of eight, said Johor Health, Environment, Education and Information Committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat.

“The hour-long downpour, which started at 3.30pm, caused floodwaters to rise along some main roads and residential areas,” he said, adding that the Civil Defence Force (APM) mobilised machinery to aid the victims after water rose to about knee level.

Several houses in Kampung Maju Jaya reported flash floods but so far, only four adults and four children are seeking temporary shelter at a relief centre.

On Wednesday, a family from Kampung Sungai Buntu and six from Kampung Kebun Baru Sungai Durian in Pontian were affected by floods due to heavy rain and high tide reaching 3.4m.

Ayub said however, no flood relief centres were opened as water receded and the victims could remain in their homes.

In Kluang, seven Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) candidates from Ladang Mutiara near Kahang almost failed to make it to the examination centre on Wednesday when the road out of their area was cut off by the early morning flash floods.

The Kluang Fire and Rescue Department ferried the three male and four female students to their examinations using a heavy vehicle. Kluang firestation chief Akob Sidek said they received a call at 6.30am and arrived at Ladang Mutiara at 7.20am.

“The dirt road in the estate was flooded to waist level due to last night’s heavy rain,” he said.