SUNGAI SIPUT: A total of 32 Orang Asli villagers in Kampung Chenein, Lasah, near here, endured 12 hours of hunger after being trapped by floodwaters in their village.
Mohammad Shafarudin Ahin, 24, said he noticed floodwaters entering his home, which houses 13 family members, around 3am. It rose drastically within 15 minutes.
He said they only had tea, which they shared with others as they took shelter by the roadside near the forest to escape the rising waters.
In addition to cutting off roads, Shafarudin said the floods also disrupted communications from 10am yesterday.
"From 3am to 10am, my family and I waited along the paved road about 500 metres from my house, as the water kept rising. We had to move further, with nothing but the clothes on our backs.
"We had no time to bring food. When the water receded a bit, some of us returned to our homes, but there was no food, and all we could prepare was tea.
"It wasn't until around 2pm that villagers from a nearby village brought food, including rice, with chicken and meat.
"After that, we were transferred to the temporary relief centre (PPS)," he told reporters at the Dewan Pandak Hamid PPS in Kampung Bawong, today.
Shafarudin said this flood, considered the worst since 2014, also destroyed nine vehicles, including eight motorcycles belonging to his family.
Another victim from the same village, Zalinah Zabidi, 35, said her bamboo house, where she lived with her husband, three children, and a nephew, was destroyed.
"The water was strong, and it was pitch dark. We were concerned about dangerous animals. My husband carried our youngest on his shoulders while we guided the other three through the floodwaters," she said.
The tok batin of Kampung Jong, Isa Ngah, 52, was concerned about the wild animals like elephants and tigers, which initially deterred 26 families from his village from moving to the PPS.
He said the water level in the village began rising as early as midnight on Sunday, prompting affected villagers to seek higher ground.
"In our village, there are wild animals like elephants and tigers, so there was fear that leaving our homes unattended would be risky.
"The muddy waters from Sungai Pelus rose quickly, and all we managed to save were our personal identification documents," he said.
Meanwhile, according to the State Disaster Management Committee Secretariat, as of 4pm today, the number of flood evacuees had risen to 1,267, up from 1,195 at 3pm.
The worst-hit districts were Kuala Kangsar, with 578 victims, followed by Muallim (375), Hulu Perak (203), and Kerian (111).