Safety measure: Work is underway to place stones next to a house affected by coastal erosion to prevent it from collapsing in Kampung Tanjung, Batu Rakit, Kuala Nerus. — Bernama
CHUKAI: Sixteen residents from five families in Kampung Geliga Baru spent an anxious night fearing for the safety of their homes after they were battered by powerful waves from the high tide and strong winds.
One of the homeowners, Ibrahim Zakaria, 67, shared that he and two other family members were forced to evacuate to the Balai Raya Geliga Pantai Temporary Relief Centre (PPS) after several sections of the walls and roof of their house were blown off during the storm on Saturday.
Ibrahim said the area behind his kitchen had also been severely eroded by waves over two metres high.
“Large waves during the monsoon season often cause erosion at my house. But I’ve never seen waves this big in my 30 years here.
“They were rolling in as if they were going to swallow our houses,” he said when met at the PPS, reported Bernama.
Ibrahim said he is still waiting for the waves to subside so he can assess the condition of his home.
“My house is an old wooden structure, and every year it faces the waves, waiting for the day it will collapse. Right now, we are forced to stay in the community hall in a nearby village because the hall in our village is no longer safe,” he said.
Another resident, Juliana Ariffin, 45, said that her family was forced to move to the PPS around 7.30pm after their house shook from the impact of the waves late in the evening.
Juliana added she did not have time to save any valuables as the safety of their four children was the priority.
“My husband could only recite prayers as we escaped,” she said.
She added that her husband returned yesterday to check the condition of their house.
“There was sand and debris all over the floor. And the five houses behind ours have all collapsed due to erosion and the waves. We are very worried about where we’ll live if our house faces the same fate,” she said.
Terengganu Meteorological Office director Rosli Zakaria said the wind speed recorded in Kuala Terengganu is currently around 25kph, compared to the usual 10 to 20kph during the northeast monsoon.
He said on Saturday night, wind speeds reached up to 40kph.
“This poses significant risks to anyone living in the coastal areas. I urge the public to stay away from the coastline due to the dangers of falling trees and collapsing structures,” he added.
