PASIR MAS – Rantau Panjang residents, especially those living near Sg Golok, are beginning to take precautionary steps after the water level at the river rose above the danger level following three days of heavy rain.
Food stall owner, Syed Abu Bakar Syed Daud, 62, said that even though he has been used to dealing with such natural disasters for decades, he is still worried in the event of unexpected flooding.
“I put my things on specially built shelves to cope with the flood every year.
“Normally, we would not be able to trade for a week if it rains in Rantau Panjang town because water from Sg Golok overflows the banks and floods the town area to the waist-level of adults,” he said when met today.
According to the Drainage and Irrigation Department’s Public InfoBanjir website, the water level at Sg Golok breached the danger level at 9.34m as of 12.30pm today.
Syed Abu Bakar said he has been trading in the town for the past 20 years and three days of continuous heavy rain will flood the area.
“It is raining heavily now, but it is only a quick downpour. We will continue to monitor the situation because Sg Golok does not split its flow into Thailand and Rantau Panjang anymore, and water has been flowing more into the town ever since Thailand built an embankment along the length of the river.”
Meanwhile, a survey of the situation at Kg Tersang, which was badly affected by the flood last month, found water from the river flowing into the homes of residents.
Marie Suriani Abdullah, 43, said residents were just returning to their homes last week after being evacuated to temporary evacuation centres.
“Now, we must be on the alert to move to the centres again in case it rains again.
“Each time the monsoon season arrives, we will have to move to a centre around three or four times,” she said.
Another resident, Rosmandi Che Wil, 49, said residents get restless when December arrives since their homes are located just 20m from Sg Golok.
“If it rains heavily in two or three days we will need to pack our things and move.
“Facing the flood annually has prepared us to be more ready. In fact, we have been ready as early as November. Even our boats are on standby,” he added. – Bernama, December 10, 2022
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