BUTTERWORTH: The high tide and big waves that wrecked coastal areas in Penang yesterday have caused huge losses to seafood restaurants operating in Pantai Bersih, Bagan Ajam and other eateries in the surrounding areas.
Checks by the 'New Straits Times' at Pantai Bersih today (Sept 18) showed all seven seafood restaurants along the beachfront were badly damaged.
Some still had huge puddle of water inside the premises and others with cracked flooring.
Each restaurant is believed to have suffered between RM50,000 and RM200,000 in losses.
Restaurant owner Low Kok Seng, 59, whose premises went viral yesterday (Sept 17) after its cement flooring cracked after being repeatedly hit by high tide and big waves reaching up to 3.5m, said he had just opened for lunch time business when the incident occurred.
"It happened so suddenly. The high tide and big waves came crashing into our restaurants on the beachfront and within minutes, all were gone.
"The big waves washed away the tonnes of sand that I had used as the foundation for the cement flooring, causing the floor to crack and collapsed.
"It is so messy. I don't know where to start. It will take some time before full repairs can be carried out.
"This is the first such incident in eight years since I started operations. Luckily, there were not many customers at that time," he told the NST.
He estimated losses of between RM150,000 and RM200,000.
Low employs about 30 workers, and earns between RM7,000 and RM10,000 a day.
Another seafood restaurant owner, known only as Tan, 46, said even his tables and chairs were swallowed by the big waves.
Checks at his premises showed everything was in a big mess as the big waves swept up to his kitchen, leaving only rubbish and debris behind.
"Just look at the mess. You decide whether it is bad or not.
"The last time such big waves hit was more than two decades ago," he said, estimating his losses at RM50,000.
"This looks worse than a mini tsunami."
He said he would wait for the weather to improve before starting repair work.
Besides the mainland, the high tide and big waves yesterday also hit a food court in Padang Kota Lama.
Over at Batu Ferringhi, the big waves lashed its fury into the restaurant and pool of the Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa.
Lifeguard Kamarol Ahmad, 59, said sand as high as 10cm, together with large stones and rubbish, was swept into the restaurant and the pool.
He said it had never happened like this before.
"The pool is almost the same level of the sea," he said.
Up to 1pm today, the tide was still high and the waves were big.
Many curious onlookers were at Pantai Bersih to check out the high tide and big waves, with shutterbugs busy clicking away.