SETIU: Rough seas, aided by high tides and strong winds, wreaked havoc along coastal areas of Dungun, Kemaman and Kuala Nerus last night, uprooting trees and eroding beaches.
Two cars were damaged by a falling tree at Hotel Seri Geliga in Kemaman; and a family at Mengabang Telipot in Kuala Nerus had to be evacuated as their house was threatened by beach erosion.
In Dungun, a stretch of road parallel to the beach from Kuala Dungun to the UiTM campus at Sura Gate was closed due to serious beach erosion that uprooted trees which fell across the road.
Terengganu Disaster Management Committee secretariat Chief Lieutenant Colonel (PA) Che Adam A Rahman said the waves that hit the beach were as high as four metres at the peak of the high tide at around midnight.
"The coastal road from Kuala Dungun is closed because of erosion and sand patches. Uprooted trees are also blocking traffic," he said.
In Kemaman, the high tide and rough seas affected coastal areas in Geliga and Kuala Kemaman and near a low-cost housing area in Kemasik.
"Uprooted trees fell on two cars near Hotel Seri Geliga, but no one was injured
"The rough seas affected 15 houses, but no one was evacuated," he said.
In Kuala Nerus, trees were uprooted in Tok Jembal and Losong Feri, and beach erosion occurred in Mengabang Telipot.
"We evacuated a family whose house was at risk of being washed into the sea at Mengabang Telipot," said Che Adam.
He said rescuers had to disperse onlookers at all the affected areas as the situation was unsafe.
"Tonight, we will face another round of nature's wrath and my men are on alert to prevent the people from going near dangerous areas," he added.