BALING: There are no words to describe how grateful three members of a family from Kampung Haji Abas are to the rescuers from the Fire and Rescue Department for saving them just in time from being swept away by powerful flood currents early today.
Pensioner Jaafar Mat Hashim, 61, expressed his deep appreciation for the swift action taken by the rescuers to save him, his 88-year-old mother Aishah Abas, and his 28-year-old son Mohd Hanafi Jaafar. Recalling the ordeal at 3am, Jaafar said they were trying to leave their home when it was inundated by floodwaters that were one metre deep.
"Upon seeing the floodwaters almost reaching the electrical pole, we had no choice but to leave the house for fear of being electrocuted. I carried my mother on my back, and we waded through the floodwaters in the pitch dark, as the roadside lamp post was already out of order," he said.
Things became even scarier when the floodwaters suddenly rose to nearly two metres. "It was terrifying. I was almost completely submerged. Fortunately, I managed to grab a mangosteen branch and used all my remaining energy to push my mother toward the tree. My son climbed another tree nearby. Both trees were just three metres away from the overflowing riverbank, and the current was extremely strong," he said.
Luckily for the family, Hanafi's mobile phone was still operational, allowing him to make a distress call to the Fire and Rescue Department. The rescuers, aided by local villagers, arrived in time to save them. Earlier reports indicated that rescuers from the department had helped other victims who were clinging to trees.
State Fire and Rescue Department Zone III Fire Safety Branch chief Mohamad Sofi Abdul Wahab said that the rescuers waded through the strong currents using a rope system and personal protective equipment to ensure the victims' safety.