Kampung Tersang villagers did not expect major flood

PASIR MAS: About 300 residents from 58 families in Kampung Tersang, Rantau Panjang, here did not expect a major flood to occur in their village this year.

Many villagers when met said despite living less than 50 metres from Sungai Golok, the flood this time is described as unusual when water rose about three meters.

A senior citizen who has been living the longest in the village, Yah Umat, 78, said the flood this time was historic to her when the village was flooded in the past few days.

"I have been living in this village for more than 50 years, and this is the first time, I have seen such an major flood. The flood was never three meters deep and swift which submerged the village road which is located on high ground.

"Before this, floodwaters would usually enter certain areas in the house, but this time the water was up to chest level," she said when met by reporters here today.

Following this, Yah said she is moving to a safer site for fear such floods would occur again in bad weather with water overflowing from the upstream of the river.

"I am sad to leave the house but my life is more important as I decided to shift with my children's help. Luckily, they helped me to relocate using a boat," she said.Another resident, Din Abdul Rahman, 57, said even though it was normal to flood each year, but the disaster this time appeared very different.

"It's true houses near Sungai Golok are inundated whenever there is a flood, but this year's experience gave us the shivers.

"What happened today is considered a record as water has never been this deep and swift. Many are shifting to other safer places for fear of their safety in the future," he said.

Meanwhile, an observation, found members of the 7th Battalion of the General Operation Force (GOF7) assisting villagers to move to a temporary relief centre (PPS) using four-wheel drives.

Kampung Tersang is among the areas which is frequently flooded and it usually takes a long time to subside following the stagnated flood phenomenon

-- BERNAMA