ALOR STAR: Many villagers living in Kuala Muda expressed fear over their safety following the high tide phenomenon which hit their villages for the second time this year.
One of the victims, Mat Tahir Hassin, 58, said this is the second time his village Kampung Padang Salim been affected by the high tide phenomenon within three weeks.
“My family and I have been living here for about 30 years now but this is only the second time that we have been affected by the high tide phenomenon. The first incident took place last month.
“There was heavy rain together with strong winds during the high tide phenomenon. We have faced the tsunami years ago in 2004 and now this. Of course we are worried,” he said.
Mat Tahir, who lives with his wife and two children, said the water level was only about 8 to 10cm deep yesterday but they decided to take shelter at the nearby relief centre, fearing that the situation would get worst.
“I believe the high tide will occur around 12.30am or much later. We have already moved our belongings to higher places earlier yesterday, so we have no problem rushing to the nearby relief centre,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kampung Sungai Meriam Village Development and Security Committee member, Abdullah Mat Usop, 44, said the water level in his village beginning to rise around 12am yesterday and reached below knee-level around 1am.
“We have a total of 114 families in the village and most of them are living in one-story village houses. Fortunately only three families were badly affected by the high tide phenomenon this time.
“The first incident which occurred in September affected a total of 75 families as the water rose up to about 2 metres deep.
“Thanks to the early alert provided by the authorities, many of the villagers have made early preparation to face the situation including moving their belongings to higher places. Our only hope is that the incident would not be repeated,” he said.
As at 4pm today, a total of 85 people from 24 families in six villages in the Kuala Muda district were evacuated to the relief centres beginning 12am following the high tide flooding.
Kuala Muda district Civil Defence Force (APM) officer Lieutenant-Major Azahar Ahmad said the villages affected are Kampung Masjid, Kampung Ujung Matang, Kampung Padang Salim, and Kampung Paya in Kota Kuala Muda , and Kampung Sungai Yu and Kampung Sungai Meriam in Bukit Meriam.
Azahar, who is also the committee member of disaster management of the district, said four relief centres have been opened so far to accommodate all the victims.
The centres are SK Seri Kuala (29 victims), Kampung Paya Public Hall (20 victims), Haji Yusof Bukit Kecil Mosque’s Hall (24 victims) and the home of Sungai Meriam’s Village Development and Security Committee chairman (12 victims).
The high tide phenomenon has hit several areas in the district since Saturday and is expected to continue until Thursday.
Based on the statement release by the Meteorology Department, the readings of the wave level is expected to reach between 2.8m and 3m, with the highest reading forecasted on Tuesday at 1.47am and Wednesday at 2.24am.