KOTA BARU: The operator of a houseboat-themed restaurant on Sungai Kelantan suffered an estimated RM800,000 in losses after the premises were swept away by strong currents during the floods.
Mohd Izhan Ramli, 40, said the losses included damage to parts of the houseboat, furniture, and food items, including freshly purchased king crab stored in a freezer, which were submerged during the incident.
He added that he had received numerous bookings for the day but had to cancel all reservations, as he is taking a week-long break to repair the damages to the premises.
"The front section of the houseboat broke, causing water to flood the interior and damage various items stored in the freezer, including king crab.
"When the mooring lines of the houseboat snapped this afternoon and it was carried away by the current, the damage worsened, resulting in estimated losses of around RM800,000," he said.
Mohd Izhan added that the incident, which occurred around 3.30pm, also swept away his private boat stored on a raft, although it remained undamaged.
The drifting houseboat was successfully rescued at the mouth of the Sungai Kuala Besar with the help of the Civil Defence Force (APM) and local villagers.
Mohd Izhan said that he purchased the houseboat four years ago for RM500,000 and that no unfortunate incidents had ever occurred since it began its operation.