KLANG: Residents in some parts of Bandar Bukit Raja here had a miserable morning when their neighbourhood flooded due to heavy rain.
“Phase 1 of Bandar Bukit Raja, especially the Jalan Makyong area, was badly hit after it rained continuously for over two hours early this morning,” said Bandar Bukit Raja residents association president Mohd Zulkifli Othman.
He said the downpour had caused the water catchment ponds in Bandar Bukit Raja to overflow, making it difficult for the nearby Sungai Puloh to accommodate the huge volume of water.
Thankful to be alive: The vehicle driven by the woman submerged in 1.3m-deep water near Klang Sentral, Jalan Meru.
To make matters worse, he said high tide had also caused the area’s water gate to be shut down.
“As a result, the big overflow of water from Setia Alam towards Sungai Kapar Kecil and Sungai Puloh flooded the area, especially Jalan Makyong which is on lower ground,” he said.
Because of this, the main road and several homes were flooded, with the water level reaching about 0.3m.
“We hope the Klang Municipal Council will deepen and widen Sungai Puloh right up to the water gate as well as create additional diversions for water flow,” said Mohd Zulkifli.
He said it would also be feasible to build a new floodwater catchment area in nearby Sementa.
“This new catchment pond will be able to function as a flow conduit from Sungai Puloh in the event there is an overflow from Setia Alam and Bukit Raja due to heavy rain,” he added.
All ruined: Family members looking helplessly as their furniture and belongings are submerged in Kg Kubu Gajah, Shah Alam.
In Shah Alam, seven employees of a driving institute in Jalan Kuala Selangor, Ijok, had to be rescued after they were trapped for about 30 minutes due to a flash flood yesterday.
Selangor Fire and Rescue Department director Wan Md Razali Wan Ismail said firemen received an emergency call at 11.02am seeking assistance to rescue the victims, aged 18 to 55.
Five firemen from the Bestari Jaya fire station were deployed to the scene. The water was estimated to be about 1m deep.
“All the victims were working when the flood hit, trapping them in the office of the driving institute,” he said, adding that the rescue operation was carried out using a fibreglass boat.
Meanwhile, a 57-year-old woman faced anxious moments when she was trapped in her vehicle during a flash flood near Klang Sentral, Jalan Meru.
Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director (operations) Mohamadul Ehsan Mohd Zain said the 5.45am incident occurred when the woman was passing through a flooded road and her vehicle got stuck.
The victim was on her way home and is believed to have been caught in the flash flood about five minutes before her vehicle was submerged in the water.
“The woman managed to exit her car with the help of the public before firemen reached the area. The victim did not sustain any injuries.
“It was reported that water had overflowed from a nearby drain and risen up to 1.3m. The water has since receded,” he said in a statement.
Separately in Sepang, Selangor, two young sisters drowned while swimming in Sungai Sepang Kechil while an adult man is missing.
Wan Md Razali said the incident occurred at 2.35pm yesterday.
“We received a distress call and dispatched a fire engine and six firemen to the scene.
“Based on our checks, two sisters aged seven and nine were swimming there when they got into distress.
“A man attempted to rescue them and managed to pull the nine-year-old girl out before going back in to get the younger girl,” he said when contacted by Bernama.
He said the man disappeared while trying to pull out the younger girl.
“The nine-year-old girl died at the scene while her younger sister’s body was found some 50m away.
“The 30-year-old man who was identified as Mohd Faizal has yet to be found,” he said, adding that search and rescue efforts were under way.
