‘Floods caused by logging activities’

JITRA: Logging activities contributed to floods that forced nearly 500 people from their homes in 15 villages here and nearby Changlun.

Kubang Pasu MP Datuk Seri Mohd Johari Baharum said the felling of trees on Bukit Wang Perah in Changlun, which once was a beautiful hill, contributed to the floods.

He said poor drainage system and clogged drains were also contributory factors.

Johari, who visited evacuees at SMK Changlun yesterday, said floodwaters had receded in some places, enabling the victims to return home and the closure of SMK Changlun evacuation centre and surau at Kampung Betong and Kampung Tebing.

There were 398 evacuees from 98 families still sheltering at evacuation centres in Kampung Lahar and Kampung Bata at 4pm yesterday.

Showing concern: Johari (standing, third left) with his wife Datin Seri Marziah Mohd Hashim (standing, right) conversing with evacuees at the SMK Changlun flood relief centre.

 

The Kampung Lahar surau took in 130 victims from 30 families and the Kampung Bata community hall sheltered 268 victims from 68 families.

Close to 500 villagers from 106 families in 15 villages were evacuated at the height of the floods which began inundating the villages from late Tuesday night.

The affected villages were Kam­pung Belukar, Kampung Nang Mah, Kampung Baru, Kampung Kubang Betong, Kampung Wang Perah, Kam­pung Changkat Setol, Kampung Paya Nomi, Kampung Kubang Kayu, Kampung Lahar, Kampung Paya Tok Kiong, Kampung Bata, Kam­pung Paya Tok Teh, Kampung Biak, Kampung Paya Kercut and Kam­pung Pahana.

Rohada Bakar, 52, said floodwaters rose to thigh level at her house at about 2am on Wednesday when a nearby river burst it banks after a three-hour downpour.

The housewife said the floods almost covered the bed of her bedridden husband Hasan Hamid, 68.

“It was a relief when Civil Defence Force personnel arrived to evacuate him, my 74-year-old sick mother and three children to SMK Chang­lun,” Rohada said. The family returned home yesterday.