PASIR PUTEH: Several houses collapsed, while most of the buildings at a cracker-processing factory in Kampung Dalam Rhu, Pachakan, were damaged following a high tide phenomenon on Tuesday evening (Dec 17).
Factory owner, Asmalaili Kedah, 43, said the incident occurred at 10.30pm while she, her husband Hasmizi Admin, 43, and several workers were cleaning equipment inside the building.
She said that the kitchen of a worker's house, located next to the factory, collapsed two nights ago, forcing them to salvage the equipment, fearing the situation would worsen.
"At that moment, a huge wave suddenly struck, causing the entire workers' house to collapse and be swept away by the waves, while part of the factory building also fell right before our eyes.
"I was shocked and screamed for help for my two workers' children who were still inside the house to escape," she said on Wednesday.
Asmalaili said they were fortunate as no one was injured in the incident, but they are still traumatised.
"This is the first time in 14 years of living in this area that such an extraordinarily large wave has occurred. It is possible that the same incident will repeat tonight, and that the entire factory and workers' houses will be destroyed," she said.
Following the incident, she moved her workers to her house in the same village while they sought alternative accommodation.
Meanwhile, factory worker Mohd Lokman Mat Nor, 46, said that last week his employer had advised him to move, but at the time, his wife was ill due to uterine cancer.
"I didn’t want to burden my wife, who was unwell, but four days ago she passed away, and two days after her passing, our house was swept away by the waves," he said. - Bernama
