Drop in Sg Tembeling water levels affecting business operators
KUANTAN: The prolonged hot weather has caused water levels in Sungai Tembeling, Jerantut, to drop significantly, with certain sections drying up.
Even the famous floating restaurants, or “raft house”, along the river in Kuala Tahan have been left stranded in the shallow riverbed.
Boat services here also affected, with journeys up and down the river taking a lot longer to complete as boatmen have to navigate slowly.
Videos and images of the dried section of the river have gone viral on social media, with many claiming that it was nothing new as it occurs during the hot spell every year.
Tour guide Zamri Mat Amin said the water level in Sungai Tembeling would usually drop during the hot season and would last a few weeks.
“However, the blistering sun and hot weather this time was different. I had never seen the river in such a condition before.
“The floating restaurants along the river are operating on sandbanks. At some sections, people can walk on foot to cross the river as the water level is low.”
Zamri said the hot weather had also seen a drop in the number of visitors to Kuala Tahan and Taman Negara.
Boat operator Jamil Ahmad, 40, said most parts of the river used to be more than 3m deep, but now, some parts were only ankle-deep.
He said boatmen were forced to get off their boats and pull them through the shallow water.
“The heat wave makes our job difficult and we pity passengers who have to sit for long hours in our boats.
“The drop in water level is a concern as we may have to stop the boat services if the river gets too shallow,” he said.
Tahan assemblyman Mohd Zakhwan Ahmad Badarrdin said the hot weather had resulted in the water level dropping.
“I noticed that this year the river water is drying up fast. Most sections of the river have dried up, exposing sandbars.”
He, however, said there were no reports of water disruption in nearby areas.
Certain sections of Sungai Tembeling in Kampung Bukit Mat Daling, Kampung Kuala Sat, Kampung Bantal and Kampung Gusai have become shallow and dry.