TEMERLOH: Residents of Temerloh have been taken aback by the unseasonal arrival of floods in their district, which are typically expected at the end of November through December each year.
Kampung Batu Kapor resident Idham Halid Mohd Yusof, 57, expressed his astonishment at the floods occurring in mid-October, forcing his family to seek refuge in a temporary evacuation centre (PPS).
He recounted that the floodwaters began encroaching upon his property at around 5.30am, prompting him and his wife, Nurul Huda Said, 55, to quickly move electrical items and valuables to safety.
"We’ve never experienced floods in October before, it usually happens later. I was really surprised by the early arrival this time," he told Bernama.
Nurul Huda recalled the severe floods of 2021, when water rose to the roof of their home of over 30 years, damaging numerous items.
"This time, the water started entering the kitchen, so we started packing to avoid the losses of three years ago, when many things were irreparably damaged," she said.
The couple was seen relocating their three pet padi horses to higher ground, concerned about the rising water levels.
Restaurant operator Sharuddin Mohd Shafie, 52, moved with his family to the PPS the previous night due to rapidly rising waters.
"We usually experience floods in December or November, but this time it's earlier than usual. The water in my house reached knee level, and we were ordered to relocate to the PPS," said the father of three.
Kampung Bongsu resident Lanchang Norizan Mohamed, 49, noted the unexpected timing of the flood, as the community typically faces such disasters at year-end or in January.
"Floods are indeed unpredictable, but having them in October has caught us off guard. We had no choice but to evacuate to PPS in the middle of the night for safety," added the food stall owner.
Retiree Izhar Ibrahim, 60, hopes the government will address the perennial flooding issue, which causes significant losses and forces residents to take shelter at PPS centres.
A Bernama visit to the area revealed that the Kampung Batu Kapur Muslim Cemetery was entirely submerged, while nearby villagers prepared to relocate to a PPS.
According to the InfoBencana Social Welfare Application, 856 flood victims from 244 families were placed in five PPS locations in the area as of 3.30pm.
The 2024/2025 North-East Monsoon is predicted to start in November 2024 and continue until March 2025, with expectations of four to six episodes of continuous heavy rain during that period. – Bernama
