Flash floods hit Pulau Tioman, 38 evacuated

 

Policemen wade through floodwaters in Kampung Tekek, Rompin, to check on affected villagers today. - Pic courtesy of Rompin police

ROMPIN: Flash floods struck the popular tourist island of Pulau Tioman here today, forcing 38 villagers from Kampung Tekek to be evacuated.

Rompin police, in a Facebook posting, said the victims from 13 families living in the People's Housing Project units were moved to the SK Tekek relief centre on the island after their homes were inundated.

"Policemen from the Tioman station helped to evacuate the victims after they became trapped by rising floodwaters.

"Continuous heavy rain caused water levels in the settlement to rise suddenly, prompting authorities to instruct villagers to evacuate immediately," read the statement.

Meanwhile, former Kampung Tekek village headman Zulkarnain A. Hamid, 69, said most parts of the settlement were submerged, with floodwaters reaching heights of up to 0.5 metres.

"Heavy rain over the past three days caused runoff from nearby hills to flow into the village, a situation worsened by the high tide early this morning.

"The flood victims were moved to the relief centre today. Most of the roads leading into the village are covered with water," he said when contacted.

Zulkarnain described this year's Northeast Monsoon weather as unusual, warning that further heavy downpours could result in more areas on the island being flooded.

Meanwhile, Kuantan has gone six days without any sunshine as the number of flood victims in the state capital continues to surge, with 7,224 people from 2,403 families affected, making it the worst-hit district in Pahang.

As of 10am, the East Coast state recorded a total of 8,903 flood victims across five affected districts.

The other flood-hit districts include Maran, with 776 victims; Rompin, with 337; Pekan, with 550; and Jerantut, the latest district to be affected, where 16 people have sought shelter at three relief centres. - NST