PAPAR: This semester break turned into an unexpected experience for a Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) student, who, for the first time, found herself sheltering at a temporary relief centre after her family home in Kampung Kinarut Tengah, near here, was inundated by floods following continuous heavy rain since last Saturday.
Nurul Izzati Ridzwan, 18, said her family decided to take shelter at the Dewan Lok Kawi Height relief centre after seeing the flooding situation at their home getting worse and fearing for their safety.
“I’m on a semester break from UMS and didn’t expect the flooding at home to be this bad. Our house has been flooded before, but never as badly as yesterday.
“At first, we thought of evacuating to the mosque, but the water rose so quickly that it too was flooded. We had no choice but to come here because the relief centre is safer,” she told Bernama today.
As of noon today, a total of 224 people from 65 families in Papar have been evacuated to four shelters that were opened to house flood and landslide victims in the district.
At the Dewan Lok Kawi Height Hall relief centre, which opened at 5 pm yesterday, there are 82 people from 25 families.
Nurul Izzati lauded the swift and efficient response of the rescue teams who assisted residents in relocating to the shelters.
For trader Mohd Nur Suffian Mohd Yusof, 43, safety was his main concern when he decided to move to the shelter with his wife and three children, aged between three and 16.
“When I saw the floodwater reach waist level, I knew we had to leave. We’ve faced floods before, but this is the first time we’ve had to move to a shelter. We followed the advice of authorities because we wanted to ensure the children’s safety,” said Mohd Nur Suffian, of Kampung Seri Menanti, Kinarut.
Meanwhile, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, who is also the Papar member of Parliament, said priority was being given to sending food supplies to residents cut off by floods.
“Those affected by floods and at risk of landslides are being immediately evacuated to the relief shelters in Papar,” he said.
He also urged residents not to wait until the last minute to move, especially those living in hillside areas vulnerable to landslides if heavy rain persists.
– BERNAMA
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
