SIPITANG: Kampung Melalia residents were hit by sudden flooding early Saturday following continuous rainfall, causing inundation of riverine homes.
Residents said the floodwaters rose rapidly, submerging most houses in the village.
Advertisement“Residents panicked when the floodwaters began to rise, reaching above-waist level in some areas and thigh-deep in higher ground locations,” said a resident.
The sudden flooding left many villagers scrambling to save their belongings, with some unable to rescue all their possessions due to the swift rise of water.
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The flooding, described as an unusual occurrence, was attributed to the combination of heavy downpours and persistent drizzle that caused the river to overflow.
Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Residents expressed particular concern about the potential presence of venomous animals, given the village’s proximity to forested areas and fruit orchards.
“There is also worry about crocodiles swimming into the flooded areas since we are located close to the river. This has made residents extremely cautious when wading through flood waters,” the resident added.
Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“The situation is particularly challenging as villagers lack boats for evacuation purposes, forcing some to wade through flood waters to salvage their belongings.”
Residents have taken precautions by storing important documents in waterproof containers and preventing children from playing in floodwaters.
The flooding is expected to persist for a day or two, largely due to the increasingly shallow river conditions that make the area more susceptible to flooding.
Fire and Rescue Station Chief Calvin Joe Jeafery said while they have not received any emergency calls regarding the flood, they remain on high alert.
“Our rescue boats, equipment and personnel are ready to respond to any emergency calls at a moment’s notice,” he said.
Jeafery advised residents to exercise extreme caution during this period.
“We urge residents to be vigilant about their safety and prevent children from playing in flood waters,” he said.
He also reminded residents to store important documents in waterproof containers, avoid activating electrical supplies if wet to prevent electrocution and to be watchful for venomous creatures like snakes, scorpions and centipedes that might seek shelter in houses.