‘Abnormal’ rainfall caused water surge, says Fire Department

CHUKAI: “Abnormal and excessive” rainfall in Terengganu last Saturday is believed to have been the reason that caused the water surge which claimed the lives of 10 individuals at the Air Putih waterfalls, says the State Fire and Rescue Department.

Its director Hassan ‘As’ari Omar said the Irrigation and Drainage Department (DID) had recorded 106.5mm of rainfall in a short period of time in Kemaman, which was outside the normal range for the district.

According to the DID’s Public Flood Info website, the district – where the waterfalls are located – had recorded only 0.5mm of rain on June 28, 9mm on July 2, and 0.5mm on July 3.

However, data for June 29 and 30 is unavailable due to disruptions in the system.

He said water surges could have also been caused by blockages along Sungai Teladas, which prevented debris from flowing down the river.

“When excessive rain occurred on Saturday, the blockages could not withstand the force of all that collected water, causing it to break and flow downstream in the form of a water surge,” Hassan said, reported Bernama.

The surge would have made its way to Jeram Air Putih, where the family from Pahang was having their picnic on Saturday.

He said an investigation of the area found that it would have been impossible for the victims to flee the water surge in time.

This is because of the width of the river – 80m from one bank to another – and the fact that the water level went up by five metres during the surge, he said.

On Monday, Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said that the Mineral and Geoscience Department is conducting a preliminary investigation into the incident.