THE east coast is seeing a record number of evacuees as vast swathes of the area are submerged by floods.
Portending that the worst is yet to come, the number of flood victims at the tens of relief shelters in the various districts is fast climbing.
Major rivers in Kelantan and Pahang have, since yesterday, swollen beyond the danger level, while tidal waves have been lashing coastal villages in Terengganu.
Strong currents in flooded areas are also threatening to take victims along with them.
In Gua Musang, a rescue boat manned by two soldiers with nine evacuees aboard, capsized, and the occupants swept away by the currents. Those aboard, including toddlers, were saved by a passing boat.
Many houses in the district were also swept away.
As of 6.30pm, there were 21,601 victims at 96 relief shelters in nine districts in the state, with most of the evacuees brought from Pasir Mas.
Meanwhile, the number of evacuees in Terengganu has doubled in less than 24 hours, with their number expected to rise from yesterday’s total of 15,046.
Increasingly strong tidal waves slammed into the Terengganu coast, triggering panic.
For residents of Pulau Duyong, it was a recurring nightmare, as the last time they experienced flooding of this magnitude was just before the Sultan Mahmud Hydroelectric Dam in Jenagor, which created Tasik Kenyir, started operations in 1986.
The unusually high waves did not spare the island and nearby areas, including Seberang Takir, Batu Buruk and Kuala Ibai.
In Rusila, Marang, a chalet owner was praying that her property had not been washed out to sea after 3.6m-waves hit the area about 9pm on Tuesday.
Jamilah Abdullah 50, the owner of another chalet, said the shore fronting her 25-room chalet had eroded, from the length of a football field to mere metres.
“There are three 6m-high walls protecting the property, but they were no match for the pounding waves on Monday evening.”
Villagers in the area on Tuesday rushed to build a wooden wall to to protect their properties from the second wave of king tides.
In Kuala Dungun, passengers waiting at an express bus station had to be evacuated to higher ground when waves brought seawater into the area about 10pm.
In Kemaman, two families narrowly escaped death.
Jais Ismail, 73, said his family had evacuated their home mere minutes before a huge wave crashed into and destroyed their house.
“I decided to evacuate when seawater started seeping into the house. We are left with only the clothes on our backs,” he said.
The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry yesterday said the supply of food and essential items in flood-hit states would be sufficient.
Its deputy secretary-general, Datuk Azmi Lateh, said the ministry had made early preparations and was monitoring the situation in Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang.
He said there had been no reports of food shortages in the states, but the ministry, with the cooperation of the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry, would send supplies if one was reported.
“We have drawn up strategies to address food shortages during the flood season, but that has not been the case,” he said in Penang.
Meanwhile, efforts are being mobilised to deliver aid to areas cut off by the floods.
The Kelantan Social Welfare Department, with the help of the Royal Malaysian Air Force, is using helicopters to reach victims in Gua Musang and Jeli, as the roads are inaccesible.
Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob said the state government would use funds from the “Tabung Serambi Mekah” to channel aid to the victims.
“The magnitude of this year’s floods was beyond the state Welfare Department’s expectations.
“But we will find ways to meet the needs of those affected,” he said in Pengkalan Chepa yesterday.