High tide phenomenon: 75 families evacuate to relief centres in Selangor

A total of 312 people from 75 families have started to move to three relief centres in Selangor as at 6pm Saturday.

A spokesman at the Selangor disaster operations room said of the three relief centres, one was in Klang and two in Sabak Bernam.

"In Klang, 179 people from 40 families have already registered at the Kampung Tok Muda multi-purpose hall, Kapar.

"While in Sabak Bernam, a total of 111 people from 31 families were recorded at the Sungai Air Tawar Multi-Purpose Hall while 22 people from four families are at Kampung Parit Baru Multi-Purpose Hall," he told Bernama when contacted.

He said the number of victims was expected to rise by midnight tonight and early Sunday morning due to the high tide phenomenon which may increase the sea water level up to 5.7 meters at about 6am Sunday.

In KUALA SELANGOR, several villagers living near coastal areas expressed concern over the bunds located in the area, which have yet to be repaired.

Kampung Persekutuan Kampung Tambak Jawa Development and Security Committee chairman Salleh Saring, 58, said the relevant authorities had yet to take action although the bunds in their village were sinking.

"During the high tides last month, about three houses in our area were hit by floods with the water rising up to 0.61 metres and it was even worse in the Bagan Sungai Janggut area where 60 houses were hit by floods," he said.

He added that the villagers were worried about a recurrence if the bunds still remained unrepaired.

Meanwhile, the Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia chairman Datuk Seri Dr Irmohizam Ibrahim advised fisherman in Kuala Selangor to make plans in advance before going out to sea due to high tide phenomenon.

He said during the phenomenon the sea conditions could endanger them due to strong winds that might occur.

"Fishermen who go down to the sea have to be alert and concerned about their safety, and always wear a life jacket," he said.

In SUNGAI PETANI, residents along coastal areas in Kota Kuala Muda here were seen making preparations to face the second wave of the phenomenon, which wa expected to hit Saturday.

Checks by Bernama in several villages here found they had begun to relocate their electrical equipment, furniture and other household items to safer places.

However, residents at Kampung Sungai Yu were still performing their daily activities as usual and there were also people who took the opportunity to go fishing.

Last month, seven villages including ampung Masjid, Kampung Ujung Matang, Kampung Padang Salim, Kampung Paya, Kampung Sungai Yu, Kampung Sungai Meriam, Kampung Baru Pulau Sayak and Kampung Sungai Pial Tanjung Dawai were affected by the high tide phenomenon.

Meanwhile, Port Dickson which is expected to experience the high tide phenomenon saw a lower numbers of visitors as at 3pm at four popular spots.

The four spots are Pantai Teluk Kemang in Batu 8, Pantai Bagan Pinang, Batu 3, Pantai Saujana, Batu 4 and Pantai Tanjung Biru or known as Blue Lagoon in Batu 10. -- Bernama