CHUKAI – Feeling exhausted is an understatement for an elderly woman living near a river in Kg Jenang here, who has been forced to evacuate to a temporary relief centre three times during this monsoon season alone.
Kalsom Mohamad, 80, said she was first evacuated to Dewan Sivik Air Putih here in late November last year.
The following month, she was once again forced to move to the same relief centre due to floods.
Yesterday, Kalsom had to go through the same thing again when she was evacuated to the relief centre for the third time after her house was submerged in chest-level floodwaters.
“I’m still exhausted from previous flood incidents, about 8pm yesterday, I was once again forced to move as water rose rapidly following continuous heavy rain since two days ago.
“Fortunately, my son helped me with the cleaning work. Although the floodwaters have subsided, my son asked me to stay here (at the relief centre) and return once he finishes cleaning the house,” she said at Dewan Sivik Air Putih.
Meanwhile, Rosinah Hassan, 50, from Kg Teladas here, said although the floodwaters have not completely receded, she has started cleaning her house as she does not want it to be covered in a thick layer of mud.
The food-seller said this was the worst floods since 2014 as her house was submerged in waters up to the roof.
As of noon today, 615 people from 146 families have been evacuated to six relief centres in Kemaman. – Bernama, January 4, 2021
