BENTONG: The flash floods which struck 140 houses in Janda Baik near here were triggered after three rivers in the settlement burst their banks following hours of heavy downpour today.
The water levels at Sungai Sungai Benus, Sungai Sum-Sum and Sungai Cheringin rose rapidly resulting in four villages – Kampung Janda Baik, Kampung Sum-Sum, Kampung Cheringin and Kampung Chemperoh – in the vicinity to be inundated at about 5.30am.
An hour later, the floodwaters completely receded and none of the victims had to be relocated to temporary evacuation centres.
Kampung Janda Baik Village Development and Security Committee head Damuri Nusi said it rained heavily since 2am today before the river water began to overflow into the low lying areas.
"The flash flood hit the villages between 5.30am and 6am. In some villages, the water was about knee-deep while it was worse for villagers whose homes were located close to the river.
"When the rain stopped about 7am, the flood water began to recede and villagers who were seeking shelter on higher ground returned to clean their homes... the water receded in less than 30 minutes," he said when contacted today.
Damuri said during the floods in December last year the water level at Sungai Sum-Sum and Sungai Cheringin did not reach an alarming level.
"In December, only Sungai Benus rose rapidly but today all three rivers had caused the severe floods. We are grateful that none of the villagers were trapped or injured, and everyone is safe," he said.
He said since the rain has completely stopped, the villagers were busy cleaning their mud-filled homes and the process might take a few days.
Meanwhile, a Janda Baik resort association spokesman said about 10 holiday resorts were badly affected by the floods and in some areas the main roads towards the premises were completely damaged.
It was reported earlier that heavy rain early triggered flash floods at several low lying villages and recreational areas at Janda Baik near here.
Meanwhile, Ketari assemblyman Young Syefura Othman described the floods today as the second worst since the major floods which struck Janda Baik last December.
"Although over the past five months, there were several flash floods in Janda Baik, today appears to be bad. Several areas were affected... Kampung Sum-Sum Hulu which was spared during the floods last year has been badly hit," she wrote on Facebook.