Visitors swarm high-tide event
The phenomenon happens once a year when seawater overflows into the park
TANJUNG PIAI: Hundreds of visitors thronged the Tanjung Piai National Park to witness the high tide phenomenon which only happens once a year.
The phenomenon caused seawater from the Straits of Malacca to overflow and turn the entrance into a natural water theme park.
Canadian Tyler Bishop, 55, who works as a principal in Johor Baru said Tanjung Piai was among his favourite destinations in the state.
“I brought the whole family with me, as we had never seen the park filled with seawater before.
Another visitor, housewife Rogayah Ibrahim, 65, said she took her children and grandchildren to have fun at the park.
“When we reached the entrance at around 9.30am, there were already many people waiting to see the water overflow.
“My grandchildren, who are here to visit me, had so much fun.
“It has been a good family outing for us before they go back to Kuala Lumpur next week,” she said.
Secondary school student Muhammad Azan Muhammad Khaled, 15, said he and his friends were having fun playing with the overflowing water.
“The water came rushing in at around noon.
“We dipped our feet and it was so cool and refreshing,” he said.
Park manager Norwati Abdul Wahab said the high-tide phenomenon only happens in late December and it has been occurring for the last five years.
“We believe it is due to global warming which causes seawater to rise and overflow into the park.
“As far as we know, this high tide only happens at Tanjung Piai National Park and areas around Kukup,” she said.
Norwati said the phenomenon happens for about a week and would end on Dec 27 when the water would rise to 3.6m at its peak and last for only about two hours.
“We have taken safety measures including stationing park rangers at strategic spots and closing off the park to visitors during the high tide,” she said.
Meanwhile, Bernama reported that the Terengganu Civil Defence Force said it will monitor the hightide phenomenon between four and six hours a day.
Its director Lt-Kol Che Adam A. Rahman said the phenomenon is expected to last until Dec 28.
“There are some areas which are at risk, including Kuala Terengganu, Kuala Besut, Kuala Nerus and Kemaman.
“The monitoring must be continuous to observe the rise in seawater levels caused by the combination of seawater and heavy rains,” he said after visiting Pantai Batu Buruk, Teluk Warisan and Losong to observe the seawater levels.
Che Adam, who is also the chief secretariat of the state flood management committee, said he did not discount the possibility of a fresh wave of floods in January.
He said the Meteorological Department would provide the committee with weekly weather forecasts, and if necessary a warning would be issued.