Race against time: Villagers digging up eroded graves at the Kampung Pengkalan Maras Cemetery for relocation to another cemetery, in Kuala Terengganu. — Bernama
KUALA NERUS: Five bodies, including three still wrapped in their shrouds, had to be reburied after being swept away by strong waves at the Kampung Pengkalan Maras Cemetery.
Kampung Pengkalan Maras village development and security committee chairman Mohd Isshamudin Ismail said the cemetery, located near the coast, has long been threatened by erosion, particularly during the monsoon season.
The high tide and strong waves on Friday night led to the displacement of five graves.
"The incident was noticed by villagers who visited the site around 9am today. In addition to the bodies, there were pieces of shrouds, bones, headstones and tomb covers in the sea," he said during a visit to the cemetery yesterday, Bernama reported.
"Fortunately, villagers managed to recover the bodies, tomb covers, and some shroud fragments. The rest may have been carried out to sea."
The affected families have been contacted and have made arrangements for the reburial of the bodies at the Gong Walit Cemetery in Mengabang Telipot, said Mohd Isshamudin.
He added that around 200 graves at the cemetery will need to be relocated due to worsening erosion.
"Authorities built a wall to prevent the waves from reaching the cemetery, but the wall is about five years old. In the past two or three days, the waves were so strong that the wall couldn’t withstand them.
"Most of the graves here are over 70 years old, but during the rainy season, villagers still bury their dead here because the new burial site is flooded," he said.
