The Star 22 Nov 11;
PETALING JAYA: Hundreds of residents in Johor, Terengganu and Kelantan have been hit by floods following heavy rain and thunderstorms.
In Johor Baru, more than 490 residents were evacuated after floodwaters rose to about 1.2m at two villages in Skudai following a downpour on Sunday.
A total of 115 households from Kampung Laut and four from Kampung Poh Chir Leng were moved to SK Skudai flood relief centre.
Form Five student M. Manimengalai, 18, did not have time to grab her revision books but said she was not worried as she was prepared for her SPM examination.
Painter Wong Kok Pau, 35, said he built a 1.5m wall in front of his house in Kampung Poh Chir Leng 10 years ago to keep floodwaters out.
“But the drain in front of my house overflowed when it rained,” he said.
Nusajaya assemblyman Datuk Aziz Sapian said 495 residents from the two villages were evacuated to the flood relief centre.
“I was informed that two other areas in Gelang Patah Taman Damai Jaya and Kangkar Pulai were affected. But no one has been evacuated,” he said.
In Terengganu, two districts were badly hit, forcing the evacuation of 20 people.
A state National Security Council spokesman said they were moved out from Kampung Merbau Menyusut in Setiu yesterday after their houses were flooded.
“They are staying at the village mosque,” he said, adding that the Hulu Terengganu district was also hit with several Kampung Kolam Ajil and Kampung Telaga residents evacuated.
The levels of several major rivers have also risen with Sungai Nerus in Kampung Langkap rising above the 21.5m danger mark while the level of Sungai Tele- mong in Kampung Paya Rapat breached the 21m danger level.
Sungai Calok Setiu rose to 8.57m, higher than the 8.5m that it should be.
In Kelantan, there were flash floods in Kota Baru and Pasir Puteh. However, heavy rains and strong winds damaged several houses in the fishing village in Pantai Sabak near Kota Baharu. The roofs of some houses were blown away. - Bernama
Floods hit 3 states
Sharum Sayuthi, Ben Tan and Rizalman Hamim New Straits Times AsiaOne 22 Nov 11;
Heavy rainfall which lasted for six hours here on Sunday caused flooding at Kampung Laut and Poh Chee Leng near Skudai.
A total of 495 people from 119 families were evacuated as water rose to almost 2m in the areas.
As of late yesterday, the evacuees were still at the flood relief centre at SK Skudai despite the floods having receded.
"We still need to clean up our homes and we are also worried because it seems the rain will continue, especially in the afternoon," said Zailan Abd Kadir of Kampung Laut.
He said water level had risen very fast on Sunday evening, forcing his family to leave their house without saving any of their belongings.
M. Manimegalai, 17, who is sitting for his Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia said he did not manage to save his books when his family were evacuated about 10pm.
"I am glad that one of my teachers fetched me to school this morning for the examination and I think I managed to answer the questions rather well," added the student of SMK Taman Desa Skudai.
There were at least nine other SPM candidates among the evacuees.
Nusajaya state assemblyman, Datuk Abd Aziz Sapian. who visited the evacuees said all assistance, such as food and blankets had been distributed by the Welfare Department.
"We are bracing for more floods in flood-prone areas," he said.
"The flooding was not because of poor drainage system as those had been taken care of during the menteri besar's recent visit here. It's because of the heavy rainfall."
In Batu Pahat, 23 people from four families were evacuated from their homes in Kampung Cahaya Baru and Kampung Parit Sagil in Air Hitam when water rose to more than 3m.
They were sheltered at the multi-purpose hall of Taman Cahaya Baru.
Johor State Security Committee secretary Mohamad Yusri Hashim said all agencies involved in flood relief efforts had been put on alert.
"We are monitoring the weather pattern and level of rainfall at all catchment areas and main rivers. This will enable us to promptly evacuate those in the affected area."
In KUALA TERENGGANU, Zarina Abdullah reports downpour in Hulu Terengganu, Marang and Setiu over the weekend forced some 50 people to leave their homes and take shelter at several relief centres.
Floodwater rose to more than 1.5m in villages Kolam, Kerbau Menyusut, Pengkalan Berangan and Marang.
However, all main roads in Terengganu remained open and there were no casualties to date.
A spokesman for the state Drainage and Irrigation Depatment (DID), said as at 5pm yesterday water levels at the Sungai Setiu river basin and Sungai Marang were at danger level, while at other rivers statewide, the situation had returned to normal.
Its 24-hour operation to monitor the flood situation since Sunday is still open.
For flood updates, the DID information centre is 09-6224072.
In KOTA BARU, Sharifah Mahsinah Abdullah reports several low-lying areas, including 13 Avenue Garden in Kampung Wakaf Stan and Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, were hit by flash floods yesterday following heavy rains since Sunday.
Water level was only knee-high, and residents claimed the poor drainage system were to blame for the floods.
"It happens every time there is a downpour," said resident Minah Daud, 61, when she woke up early yesterday for her subuh prayers at 6.30am.
A check along Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra showed that several shophouses along the road were also affected and the owners were busy moving their goods to a higher ground.
In KOTA KINABALU, a group of Tahfiz Al-Quran students were shaken after a night of heavy rain on Saturday cause a landslide to hit the city mosque here, reports Edmund Samunting.
The landslide had caused massive damage on the mosque's kitchen and storeroom, close to the students' hostel.
The mosque and hostel were located on a hill and no one was reported hurt in the 8pm incident.
Housing and Local Government Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Lajim Ukin urged relevant departments to be prepared for possible landslides.
