Worst floods in 28 years for two villages in Hulu Telemong

Villagers have described the severe floods which struck two villages in the Telemong state constituency here as the worst in the last 28 years.

Telemong assemblyman Datuk Rozi Mamat said this year's floods were worse than the floods in 1986 as the two villages were the first to be hit by the fast-flowing Sungai Telemong.

"The river overflowed at about 2am and there was no time for the villagers to salvage their belongings.

"Some of them were not prepared at all as they have never been through this calamity and much of their property has been destroyed," he told reporters today.

Rozi said that initially the two villages ran short of food as they were cut off by the floods and food supplies could not be delivered immediately as the authorities were hampered by strong currents and heavy rain.

Kampung Basong Development and Security Committee (JKKK) deputy chairman Basong Mohd Salleh said usually only 10 families would be affected every time there were floods, but the number had increased to 70 families involving 300 people.

"The floods this time are very severe and I am also affected. My house has never been hit before but this time the waters rose up to chest level at my house," he said.