RESIDENTS of Kampung Air Papan Tengah in Mersing had to reluctantly move to a temporary evacuation centre last night, despite having returned home just four days ago after the last flood.

Amran Saliman, 64, shared that he and his family relocated to the centre at SK Air Papan at 11am yesterday when the water in their kitchen quickly rose to thigh-level due to heavy rain.

The father of four added that his family had to wade through the floodwaters to ensure their safety

“I returned home just last Sunday, and now I find myself having to go to the centre again. The fatigue from the previous experience hasn’t completely worn off. The floods are worse this time due to the combination of high tide and continuous heavy rain

“Fortunately, the valuables and important documents were saved. I will also go home now and then to make sure that the items left behind are safe,” he told Bernama at his home today.

Twenty-five-year-old Siti Suhaida Ariffin, a resident of Kampung Tenglu, said that although she faces the problem of flooding every year, this time the disaster was the worst because the water rose quickly.

“We indeed face floods every year, but before the water was only up to our ankles, now it is up to our waist. My family did not have time to do anything when the water rose quickly at around 10am and only thought about saving our lives.

“Many items in the house could not be saved, including sofas, clothes, washing machine, refrigerator and television, because we did not expect the flood to come so suddenly this time,” said Siti Suhaida, who has been taking shelter at SK Tenglu since yesterday.

Meanwhile, Mersing Malaysia Civil Defence Department officer Nurnajibah Abdullah advised all residents to be vigilant, especially in case of flooding, which is expected to continue until Monday, if it continues to rain heavily.

“We ask the public to be extra vigilant during this time and always to heed the weather forecasts and warnings issued by the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia).

“At the same time, you should always prioritise the safety of yourself and your family and follow the instructions of the relevant authorities if you are asked to relocate,” she said.

On Friday, Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi said the state government and the State Drainage and Irrigation Department are ready with pumps to drain out flood water following further warnings of bad weather and high tides in some districts in the state.

As at 11am, the number of evacuees in Johor stood at 4,964 people in 34 centres in Kota Tinggi, Mersing, Kluang, Segamat, Johor Baru and Batu Pahat. – Bernama, January 13, 2024.