PASIR MAS: Some 50 cattle breeders from three villages here incurred losses exceeding RM1 million after 300 head of cattle were swept away by floodwaters from the Lubok Jong river.
The affected breeders are from Kampung Serungga, Kampung Teresek, and Kampung Seberang Merbau.
Kampung Serungga Village Development and Security Committee (JKKP) head, Nur Risham Mustapa said that some breeders were able to save fewer than 20 cattle after relocating them to higher ground a few days prior to the flood.
"I lost 10 head of cattle in the initial wave of the flood, resulting in an estimated loss of RM40,000," said the 46-year-old, speaking to reporters today.
Nur Risham, who started cattle breeding 15 years ago with 15 head of cattle, had grown his herd to more than 70, including calves, before the flood. However, he lost all but 10 cattle in the recent disaster.
"I had sold some, and was left with just 10, but they were all lost in the flood last week," he added.
Other breeders in the area suffered losses ranging from RM50,000 to RM120,000 each.
Describing the floods as the worst he had ever seen, Nur Risham noted that the floodwaters rose to three metres, with a swift current that overwhelmed the area.
"In previous floods, the water level only reached 1.3 metres," he said. "This time, it was a sea of water, and nearly all 500 houses in the three villages were inundated."
The floods have affected approximately 1,800 residents from the three villages, all of whom have been evacuated to several flood relief centres in the district.