KANGAR: Twenty people from seven families in Kampung Baru, Kuala Perlis, have been evacuated to a temporary relief centre after their homes were inundated by floods due to the high tide phenomenon.
All evacuees, including two elderly individuals and a child, are sheltering at the Kuala Perlis Institut Kemahiran Bina Negara (IKBN), which was activated at around 2.30am today.
Perlis Malaysian Civil Defence Force operations officer Saifuddin Abdullah said a team of 33 men has been deployed to monitor the situation on the ground.
"Based on our monitoring along the coastal areas of Kuala Perlis up to the Kuala Sanglang area, the high tide phenomenon, which began yesterday, has occurred again today, with water levels predicted to reach approximately 3.6 metres, as reported by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage.
"Affected residents have been evacuated to the relief centres," he said when contacted.
Meanwhile, in Seberang Ramai area in Kuala Perlis, several villages were inundated due to the high tide phenomenon.
Checks showed several villages, namely Kampung Pulau Ketam, Kampung Seberang Alor, Kampung Tengah, Kampung Hujung, Kampung Tanah Baru, and several nearby villages, began to be inundated by seawater around 11.30pm, peaking at 12.40am when seawater was observed filling every corner of the area, famously known among tourists as Kampung Warna Warni.
The Dataran Semarak in Kampung Tengah and the Koma Laut Food Court in Kuala Perlis, which houses food establishments, a community hall, and parking, were also flooded.
The forecast schedule for the high tide phenomenon and instructions issued by the authorities have assisted residents in making preparations.
Kampung Tengah villager Wan Shahriman Wan Ali, 56, said the water began seeping into the residents' homes gradually around 10pm, until it filled every home in the village two hours later.
"We were informed by the authorities about this phenomenon, and we had prepared for all possibilities, as this is an annual occurrence during the monsoon season.
"My house was also flooded, but we had already moved our belongings to higher ground earlier in the day because we knew this high tide would continue to flow into residents' homes, including the local fishermen's jetty," he said.
Another villager, Mohd Khairi Abdul Aziz, 45, said representatives of the Kuala Perlis assemblyman Abu Bakar Hamzah, had been in the village since early last night to assess evacuation preparations.
"We found that the residents in this village are very aware of the situation and have already taken steps to secure their important belongings in safe places.
"Additionally, we also anticipate that this high tide phenomenon will occur again tonight, as this is a recurring situation that the residents of this village experience every year," he said.
The water subsequently receded gradually between 2am and 3.30am.
The high tide phenomenon along the coast of Kuala Perlis is expected to occur again early tomorrow morning (Oct 19), with water levels predicted to reach 3.7 metres.