KLUANG, 9 OCT – A flood victim at Sungai Linau National School’s (SK) Temporary Transfer Center (PPS), Simpang Renggam, Johor is willing to row a canoe almost 250 meters to his home every day to ensure the safety of his residence which has been flooded since last Saturday.
Misri Salamon, 63, said that although the flood has entered its fourth day, the water that rose to waist level in his residential area in Kampung Sungai Linau here has not receded yet.
“After a few days, the rain stopped, but the water in the house area still did not recede. I have to visit the house every day because I’m worried there are things missing. At the same time, it is necessary to take clothes to take to PPS as dressing.
“I have to use a boat for safety to see the condition of the house. Worried about stepping on sharp objects or poisonous animals in the water,” he told reporters when found around his house today.
Misri said almost every year the village would be flooded with water that reached up to knee level.
“This time the water rose very fast and deeper. It’s been the fourth day and the water is still stagnant, I’m worried it will be a flash flood,” he said.
He said heavy rain for more than four hours last Saturday caused his home to be flooded so that he and his family had to be moved to PPS SK Sungai Linau the next day.
Misri hopes that the responsible parties can solve the problem as the flash floods make it very difficult for the residents to do their daily activities.
Last Monday, Johor Menteri Besar, Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi was reported to have said that rainfall that exceeded normal to more than three times was believed to be one of the causes of flooding in Simpang Renggam. He said his party understood that last Sunday’s rainfall reached 110 millimeters compared to the normal level of 30 millimeters.
Until now, the Chairman of the State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN), Tan Sri Dr Azmi Rohani said a total of 235 victims from 61 families were accommodated in two PPS in this district, namely Dewan Kampung Kolam Air and SK Sungai Linau.
In addition to Kluang, the Pontian district was also affected by the floods with 244 residents from 69 families transferred to two PPS and Batu Pahat, 17 residents from three families were placed in one PPS. – Named
