Rising waters: Water levels at Sungai Kelantan rising due to the endless stream of rain, leaving the entire flat area near Tambatan D’Raja submerged. — Bernama
PETALING JAYA: As the annual downpour strikes Kota Baru again, the locals are reliving a 10-year-old nightmare: that of the 2014 “Bah Kuning” (yellow floods).
That was when the state was massively hit by floods, with muddy water submerging houses and even double-storey shoplots, destroying everything in its path.
It was a week before the floods subsided, leaving behind yellow residue on damaged goods everywhere.
Those living in Kelantan’s capital are no strangers to the annual November-January monsoon season. But the floods from a decade ago were something they could never forget.
“It was the worst flood I experienced in my life,” said Nur Damia Mohamad, 29, whose house in Kampung Sireh is less than a kilometre from the banks of Sungai Kelantan.
Here, the annual floods usually happen gradually, with rain falling for three to four days, causing the river to overflow.
Most of the houses are built on stilts so the residents can stay dry. But that year, even the stilts could not afford them shelter from the fast-rising waters.
Within a day, the waters reached dangerous levels, past the stilts and into homes.
“The rain came down hard for hours. We moved our cars to higher ground but the floodwaters rose fast and we did not have a chance to move our belongings.
“My parents and I only managed to save our documents and other valuables before fleeing.
“Most houses have sampan on standby and we only had enough time to grab what we could,” Nur Damia said, recounting the incident.
While the rain in Kota Baru has not been as bad this year, it has been heavier than normal, prompting many to begin moving furniture, electrical appliances and perishables to safer locations.
“I have not been able to go to work as some of the roads have been blocked the past few days.
“But my husband has been braving the waters to get to his office,” she said.
The siren along Sungai Kelantan has gone off three times, warning everyone that the waters were reaching alert level.
“I hope more can be done to solve the flood woes.
“My parents are getting older and I don’t want them to go through the same experience again,” Nur Damia said.
