Kuala lumpur: Residents of Kampung Batu 10, Cheras described the floods that struck today as among the worst in the past five years, with water rising extremely rapidly and leaving some residents with little time to save their belongings.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the village’s headman Napiah Harun stated that although the village is accustomed to dealing with flood incidents, the situation this time was different as water rose to nearly one metre in just 30 minutes at about 1 pm. Napiah Harun noted that typically, heavy rainfall results in water flowing through the area, but this instance saw water rushing in quickly, taking residents by surprise with its severity.
Napiah Harun shared that his house, located in a low-lying area, was quickly inundated, with water reaching chest level. While some household items were saved, others were not. The urgency of the situation forced residents to evacuate, prioritizing safety over belongings, which can be replaced.
The village consists of 20 houses, including two buildings occupied by foreign nationals, affecting more than 70 residents. Those impacted by the floods were relocated to two temporary relief centres (PPS) at Kampung Melaka and Kompleks Penghulu Mukim Cheras.
The Village Development and Security Committee (JPKK) had been monitoring the water levels since the previous night, using a WhatsApp group to communicate information to residents. Kampung Batu 10 frequently experiences overflow from the Hulu Langat area due to shared river flow, and today’s heavy rain caused the river to exceed its capacity.
Meanwhile, Selangor Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Hulu Langat Zone 4 chief Wan Syariman Wan Saleh reported that evacuation operations began at 11 am. Initially, some residents were reluctant to evacuate, but the rising water levels necessitated immediate action. The operations involved 74 victims, including 25 locals, while the remaining were foreign nationals living in rented homes and worker quarters in the area. Three boats were used in the evacuation process, which also included the rescue of livestock.