Only way out: People wading through flood waters at Kampung Kelewek in Tanah Merah, Kelantan. — Bernama
KOTA BARU: Several villages in the Kuala Krai and Tanah Merah districts have been hit by floods following a downpour.
Kuala Krai District Civil Defence officer, Capt Abd Fatah Abd Aziz, said the affected villages in Kuala Krai are Kampung Bedal, Kampung Chenulang and Kampung Tanjung Kala.
“As at 1pm (yesterday), water levels rose between 1.5 and 2m in low-lying areas, disrupting main road access due to strong currents.
“We deployed our personnel to monitor the flood-prone hotspots,” he told Bernama, adding that temporary relief centres will be opened if needed.
In Tanah Merah, district police chief Supt Mohd Haki Hasbullah said they were fully prepared and the affected areas had been surveyed, including Kampung Batu Gajah.
A Bernama survey found several villages in the district, such as Kampung Batu Sembilan, Kampung Batang Merbau and Kampung Lawang inundated.
Low-lying roads in Kampung Kelewek, Kampung Bendang Nyior and Kampung Batu Lapan were also affected.
Water levels began rising at about 7am yesterday after heavy rain began at 7pm on Saturday night.
Last Thursday, it was reported that the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) had forecast the possibility of floods in nine districts across Kelantan within three days starting Saturday.
Meanwhile, in the latest update, the DID forecast floods in Kelantan and Pahang over the next two days, starting yesterday, following continuous rainfall warnings.
In an early flood forecast issued at 2pm yesterday, it said 10 districts in Kelantan were expected to be affected, namely Tumpat, Pasir Mas, Kota Baru, Pasir Puteh, Bachok, Tanah Merah, Machang, Kuala Krai, Jeli and Gua Musang.
The floods in Pahang are expected to impact five districts: Kuantan, Pekan, Rompin, Jerantut and Maran.
“The DID will carry out continuous monitoring and update flood warning announcements if significant rainfall persists in the river basins concerned.
“The predicted floods may occur earlier or later than the forecast dates. All disaster management agencies and residents, especially those in the areas expected to be affected, are urged to remain alert to instructions from the authorities,” it said.
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