KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 1,089 residents from areas hit by the high-tide phenomenon have been relocated to several relief centres until late this afternoon.
The two-day phenomenon which first occurred on Sunday was due to the gravitational forces of the moon and sun (also known as spring tide) and at the same time, caused by strong southwesterly winds.
Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences (IOES) deputy director Prof Datuk Dr Azizan Abu Samah said the spring tide phenomenon occurred twice a month the new and full moon.
“The spring tide occur when the earth, moon and sun are paralelled, (and) the gravitational forces of the moon and sun will contribute to the higher-than-normal tides,” he said when contacted by Bernama today.
Azizan said the strong southwesterly winds, on the other hand, would occur in the west coast of the Peninsular Malaysia from May to September each year.
The two conditions had contributed to the unusual high-tide phenomenon, he said.
Asked whether a detailed studies was needed to analyse the local weather conditions especially on the high-tide phenomenon, Azizan said it was not necessary because the existing technologies were now sufficient to overcome the situation.
“The phenomenon of tides is common. The existing technologies are able to monitor the height of the waves for the past several days. People can also see the graph of water level which is updated by the hour online,” he said.
Until late this afternoon, a total of 97 people in Perak had been relocated to three relief centres, namely the Kampung Panchor Public Hall, SK Semenang and the Kampung Nelayan Public Hall.
In KEDAH, 769 evacuees were housed at five relief centres in Kuala Muda, namely SK Seri Kuala (267 people); Kampung Sungai Meriam Development and Security Committee House (262); Kampung Paya Hall (94); Kampung Sungai Yu Surau (74) and Telok Amboi Hall (72).
In SELANGOR, a total of 224 people out ouf 52 families had been evacuated to three centres since last night, namely Kampung Tok Muda Hall in Kapar, Klang; Lorong Hamzah 2 Community Hall in Kampung Tok Adam, Tanjong Karang; and Sungai Air Tawar Public Hall, Sabak Bernam.
Selangor Fire and Rescue Department Operations Division assistant director Mohd Sani Harul said the affected villagers were from Kampung Sungai Air Tawar(57 people), Kampung Tok Muda (152) and Kampung Tok Adam (15).
He said some 1,300 members from 32 fire stations in the state were put on standby to and monitor any possibility of massive flood in the areas.
Meanwhile, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Madius Tangau said strong southwesterly winds of between 40 and 50 km per hour with big waves to a height of 3.5 metres, is expected to occur in waters off Phuket, namely in the northwest of the Peninsular Malaysia until tomorrow.
He advised residents near the coastal areas to take precautionary measures and to always updated themselves with latest weather forecast. -- Bernama