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'Yellow flood' still haunts Kuala Krai folk a decade later

KUALA KRAI: Villagers in the district are still traumatised by the devastating "Bah Kuning," or "yellow flood," which destroyed countless properties.

Memories of the flood, named after its yellow-coloured waters, remain vivid for many of the over 7,000 people it affected, including Che Norhayati Mohamed, 58.

She recalls seeking shelter with 29 others at a mosque on the night of Dec 27, 2014. Heavy rain continued to batter the village, and by 3 am, water breached the mosque.

"We carried young children in boats to a nearby unfinished house," she said.

However, rising waters soon threatened to collapse their new shelter.

"We prayed through the dark night, fearing for our young children, the elderly, and pregnant women. Adults might survive by clinging to trees or swimming, but the violent current left us fearing the worst," she added.

Che Norhayati said the darkness and swift currents prevented rescue efforts.

"We felt as if we were stranded in the ocean. Only God knows how terrified we were."

Fortunately, rescuers arrived the next day, just in the nick of time.

"As we fled to the temporary relief centre, I watched the current sweep away both our floating house and the mosque."

Today, the Kuala Krai Flood Memorial Monument stands in the town centre as a reminder of the disastrous floods.

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