BATU PAHAT, March 5 (Bernama) — Many people here have had to seek shelter at temporary relief centres since Wednesday (March 1) due to floods.
As of 4 pm today, Batu Pahat became the worst-hit district, with 18,485 people evacuated to 70 centres and one of them was Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) journalist Kamarul Halim M. Kamal, 40.
According to Kamarul Halim, who lives in Kampung Parit Sauh, Parit Sulong here, he first noticed that his house was flooded at 6.30 am yesterday, causing his furniture and electrical items to be damaged as he did not have time to move them to higher ground.
“It all happened so fast. I only managed to take some important certificates and documents as the floodwaters had risen to my knee level. I also managed to move my four pet kittens to a higher place and provide them with some food.
“This is the second time I have had to deal with floods after the first incident in 2007. But the floods this year are much worse since my house is near Sungai Simpang Kiri, Parit Sulong,” he said when met after lodging a report at the Sri Medan police station, here, today.
Kamarul Halim is now placed in the centre at Sekolah Kebangsaan Seri Tanjong, Tongkang Pechah here.
Meanwhile, the Batu Pahat Public Works Department (JKR), through a notice uploaded on its Facebook page, said that, as of 1 pm today, nine roads in the district had been closed to all vehicles due to floods.
The closures involved Jalan Johor Bahru-Seremban near Kampung Ngarmato; Jalan Paloh near Mados; Jalan Paloh near Kangkar Baru; and Jalan Parit Haji Arif/Sri Dayung near the Sri Dayung Bridge.
“Also closed are Jalan Parit Jambi near the Parit Jambi Bridge; Jalan Yong Peng-Muar near Simpang Parit Jalil/Bukit Belah; Jalan Yong Peng Muar near the Parit Sulong Health Clinic; Jalan Parit Warijo; and Jalan Sri Bengkal near Kampung Sri Bengkal,” it added.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency