RESIDENTS TAKEN BY SURPRISE
Water rose quickly, they were only able to save documents
CHOONG Kah Tung is staring at gloomy days ahead as he deals with losses he suffered from the floods in Desa Damai, Permatang Rawa here.
“I am not sure how to deal with this because this is the first time we are experiencing such a major disaster here.
“It has flooded before but the water level never rose above a metre,” said Choong, 63, who moved into the area in 1985.
Floods usually lasted a short while but not over the weekend in the residential area, where about 100 vehicles appeared to have been inundated and probably damaged beyond repair, he said.
Many residents were not able to move their vehicles to higher ground on Saturday night when the water level began rising, said Choong, who added that among them were his son-in-law and neighbours.
Azizud di nJ a we maludin, 37, from Tasek Gelugor, Seberang Prai, said many in his village were caught by surprise.
“I could only save some important documents while were being evacuated from the house.
“The water was chest-deep inside our house at its peak.
“The strong winds also had me worried.”
Azizudin, along with seven families from Lahar Yooi, are now at a homestay, waiting for the floodwaters to subside.
In Bayan Lepas, motorcyclist Faizal Hamid, 41, said he made two attempts to go to work yesterday but was forced to turn back to George Town as the road was flooded.
“I left my house at 7am heading towards my workplace in Bayan Lepas but less than 10 minutes into the journey, I saw the road was inundated,” said Faizal, who made a second attempt at 9.45am but could not make it to work. Motorist Siti Zainab Ibrahim, 30, said her PerKancil o ua stalled when trying to pass a flooded section of the road, causing her to be trapped inside.
“Thank God there were some kind Samaritans around to help me to safety and push my car to a safer place.”