Malaysia: Coastal residents bracing for floods during high tide

NABILA AHMAD and ALLISON LAI The Star 16 Oct 16;

JOHOR BARU: Residents here, who are used to floods hitting their homes, are bracing for the worst – a possible high tide.

They have began packing and moving their belongings to higher ground.

Kampung Sri Serdang villager Norsofia Arshad, 33, said her family was prepared this time as they had gone through it for more than 15 years.

“I was born and raised in this house. When flood hits our house, we will prop up the furniture on bricks and move household items to a higher ground,” said the housewife at her home yesterday.

Kampung Sri Jaya resident committee member Md Yusop Abdullah, 59, whose house is located next to a ditch that connects to the Sri Rahmat River, said flood water would rise to ankle level during heavy rain.

“The last time the flood water reached knee-high was in 2006. We had to evacuate the house and some of our electrical items were damaged,” he said.

Trader Aishah Qayim Ali, 41, said it usually took her a week to clean up the house after the floods.

Areas like Kampung Pasir, Kampung Sri Jaya, Kampung Sri Serdang, Kampung Mohd Amin, Kampung Belantik, Kampung Bunga Ros, Kampung Kenangan and Jalan Tun Fatimah in Kangkar Tebrau are expected to experience floods as the Meteorological Department warned of a high tide from today to Thursday.

Johor Civil Defence Department operating officer Nurrul Azle Ab Jabar said they were also on standby in Pontian, Muar and Batu Pahat.

Johor Baru mayor A. Rahim Nin said the high tide was expected to reach a maximum height of 3.9m on Tuesday.

“The Johor Baru City Council has set up a flood disaster committee and an operation room at Dataran Bandaraya Johor Baru,” he said.

For reports and inquiries, call the operation room at 07-228 1989, 07-228 1939 or 1-300-88-0146.

In Klang, residents who are at risk of flash floods are not taking the high tide lightly, which has been forecast to start from this morning.

Siti Nadiah Rusman, 37, registered her fa­mily at an evacuation centre in Klang yesterday.

Painful memories from last month’s flood are still fresh on her mind.

“The flood damaged some of our furniture, the fridge and also the TV. My husband and I have been moving our furniture and electric appliances to a higher spot in our home,” she said.

Selangor Disaster Management Committee secretary Kol Ahmad Afandi Mohamad said many residents went on their own to the Dewan Kg Tok Muda evacuation centre.

“It can accommodate up to 50 families,” he said.

He said partitions were arranged for the evacuees with each family assigned to one space.

“Separate space for breastfeeding mothers is also provided,” he said, adding that a place to cook was available too.

Seventeen evacuation centres have been activated so far in Selangor.

In George Town, Malaysian Civil Defence Force state operation officer Muhammad Aizat Abd Ghani said there were no strong winds or heavy rain so far in the state.

Perak coastal folks warned over high-tide phenomenon
IVAN LOH The Star 14 Oct 16;

IPOH: The people staying in coastal areas have been warned over the high-tide phenomenon that is expected to hit between now and Oct 19.

Hilir Perak acting district officer Zulhisham Ahmad Shukori urged those staying in high-risk areas to relocate to temporary shelters that have been provided should their houses be flooded.

Among the areas identified are Kampung Batak Rabit, Kampung Esso, Kampung Batu 7 1/2, Kampung Batu 6, Teluk Intan, Kampung Terengganu and Jalan Sungai Nibong.

“Flood victims are to evacuate their homes to the nearest shelter.

“The shelters are at SK Dato’ Laksamana Raja Mahkota, SMK Sains Teluk Intan and Dewan MPTI at Jalan Speedy,” he said.

Those who need assistance could call the Fire and Rescue Department at 05-622-1444, the Civil Defence Department (05-621-9010) or the police (05-622-1222).

Residents in the Kerian district have also been urged to be alert for floods caused by tides as high as 3.4m.

The high-risk areas include Kuala Bagan Tiang, Bagan Utara, Tanjung Piandang fishing village, Bagan Selatan, Kuala Kurau fishing village, Bagan Cina Kuala Gula, Kampung Raja Bashah, Kampung Sungai Protan, Kampung Jalan Gula, Kampung Sungai Baru, Kampung Sungai Petani Selinsing, Kampung Lubok Buntar, Kampung Depan Balai Bagan Serai and Kampung Teluk, Bagan Serai.

Village chiefs have been notified to inform villagers to keep their important documents safe and to follow instructions during floods.


High-tide phenomenon: Selangor evacuees rise to 312 as of 6.30pm
HARIZ MOHD New Straits Times 15 Oct 16;

KLANG: The number of Selangor residents evacuated ahead of an anticipated high-tide phenomenon has risen to 312 people from 75 families as of 6.30pm today.

So far, only three evacuation centres – two in Sabak Bernam district and another in Kapar – have been affected.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department (SFRD) assistant director (operations) Mohd Sani Harul said the centre at Kapar’s Kampung Tok Muda community hall received 179 evacuees from 40 families, while centres in Sabak Bernam – Sungai Air Tawar community hall and Parit Baru community hall - received 111 and 22 evacuees respectively.

It is learnt that authorities have put 25 evacuation centres on standby mode to face any eventuality during the high tide phenomenon, which is expected to hit coastal areas of the Peninsula's west coast as early as tomorrow morning.

At Kampung Tok Muda here, evacuees include 19 toddlers aged below 2 and six senior citizens.

Some 80 officers from multiple agencies including the Armed Forces, the police, the SFRD, the Civil Defence Force and the Health Ministry were deployed at the hall to assist evacuees.


Ten areas in Penang at risk due to high tide phenomenon
BALVIN KAUR New Straits Times 14 Oct 16;

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Civil Defence Department has identified 10 areas at risk of flash floods sparked by the unusual high tide phenomenon expected to take place at the end of this week.

Its director Pang Ah Lek said the 10 areas were the same areas that had experienced flash floods due to the same phenomenon last month.

The 10 area are Batu Ferringghi, Tanjung Bungah, Teluk Bahang, Teluk Kumbar, Balik Pulau, Penaga, Pantai Bersih, Telok Air Tawar, Pulau Aman and Sungai Udang.

“We have 1,020 officers, with most of them already stationed at the 10 areas to provide 24-hour surveillance. Various equipment such as boats and five-tonnes lorries are also on standby to tackle any problems," he told a press conference here today.

Other than Penang, three other states - Perak, Selangor and Kedah - are expected to be hit by the high tide phenomenon, which began yesterday and is expected to last until Oct 19. The sea level is expected to rise by up to three meters.

Pang said the department would be increasing surveillance this weekend when the sea level is expected to be at its highest.

“The high tide in the state are expected to occur at 11am and 1am. Based on the information received, the water would be at high tide on Oct 17 about 1am, at three metres. On Oct 19, the water is expected to be at 2.9 metres," he said.