BALING: Bachelor Mohd Naim Asri Baharom, 46, has been renovating his house that was inherited from his late parents, with hopes that he will find a soulmate soon to start a family.
However, the dream was shattered when the house, located near a river, was ravaged by a third round of surging floods that hit Kampung Teluk Rambong in Tanjung Pari here yesterday.
"There is no way I can still live here after seeing how the strong currents ravaged my house," Naim said as he showed the damage to his four-decade-old house.
In yesterday's incident at 7.30pm, the house wall collapsed after being struck by logs and debris washed down by strong currents from the nearby river, inundating the rooms inside and leaving a thick layer of mud on the floor.
Naim, who had been taking shelter at SK Tanjung Pari temporary flood relief centre, said he was at a neighbour's home when the incident occurred.
"I rushed home when the rain started pouring heavily around 6.30pm. About an hour later, the river water began to rise and the current was getting stronger.
"I watched helplessly as the river overflowed, and the fierce current and debris pounded the house," he said.
Naim said he would have to find a new site to rebuild his house as the current site was no longer safe.
"I have been having bad feelings since the first debris surge and flood ravaged this village on Sept 30. The second debris surge and flood destroyed a temporary bridge we built.
"My hunch was proven right when the third strike completely wrecked my house. It is just not safe any more.
"Just look at the river. It used to be just two or three metres wide, and the water was so pristine and calm. The river has now expanded to over 10 metres wide with fierce currents.
"The debris surge and floods have changed the village's natural landscape forever," he said in a subdued tone.
It was reported that the village was hit by the first debris surge and flood on Sept 30, forcing several families, including Naim, to be evacuated to a nearby temporary flood relief centre.
Checks by the NST recently found at least 10 landslide locations at Bukit Lada Putih following the debris surge and floods that devastated the village.
Kampung Teluk Rambong is located in the foothills of Bukit Lada Putih, and the surge water is believed to have originated from the hill.
The villagers claimed that logging used to be carried out in the hill some 15 years ago.
Recently, it was also reported that the Kedah Forestry Department had denied claims that there was logging in Bukit Lada Putih.
Its director Muhamad Abdullah said the land was privately-owned and not part of the Ulu Muda Forest Reserve.