SG PETANI – August 18 will surely be long remembered by the residents of Yan and Kuala Muda districts near here as one of the darkest days of their lives.
No one could have imagined that the majestic and legendary Gunung Jerai, the highest mountain in northern Malaysia at 1,207m, would unleash such rage that resulted in six lives lost and left thousands with damaged homes and properties.
The Vibes visited the two affected areas in the aftermath of the tragedy, meeting residents traumatised by the massive flooding and landslides.
Some houses were destroyed by strong currents; others partly submerged in 1m-deep mud. Villagers, deeply shaken by the incident, are forced to live with their relatives.
Was the water column that crashed down Gunung God unleashing His wrath, or a man-made disaster? If it stemmed from a natural phenomenon, would it not have happened previously, over the last decades?
If it involved “human error”, where is the evidence? Is the Kedah government ready to take responsibility and find the real answer – and a solution?
Follow this mini documentary by Sofia Nasir, and The Vibes’ video and photo specialists Mohd Hazli “Bobo” Hassan and Aliff Omar. – The Vibes, September 2, 2021
