PAKA: The worsening flood conditions and rapidly rising water levels in Kampung Pinang Merah here forced two families to take swift action to ensure the safety of their loved ones. Anuar Ahmad, 48, had to wade through waist-deep water for about 100 metres in the rain with his family to carry his wheelchair-bound father-in-law, Abdul Ghani, 83, to the car and evacuate him to the temporary relief centre (PPS) at Sekolah Kebangsaan Kampung Nyior, located about three kilometres from their home.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anuar explained that the water began rising at 9.30 pm and kept increasing rapidly, which was unusual. The family started packing their belongings at 7 pm after receiving a warning about the high tide. He emphasized the urgency of their situation, noting that his father-in-law suffers from gout and is paralysed, requiring accommodation on the ground floor at the PPS for ease of access.

Anuar and his wife, Zaharah Jusoh, 75, have experienced flooding before, with water reaching chest leve
l at his father-in-law’s house. A Bernama survey revealed that several areas, especially villages near Sungai Paka, endured waist-deep flooding due to the high tide phenomenon in Terengganu.

Resident Mohd Lafi Mohamad, 59, noted that his family made early preparations to evacuate, highlighting the unusual nature of the high tide as the water level rose rapidly after evening prayers. He expressed concern over the dangerous river levels reported in Kampung Pinang Merah, which houses around 200 to 300 homes.

Meanwhile, in Jertih, a separate incident unfolded as Mohamad Syafiq Sulaiman, 31, had to swim one kilometre through floodwaters to fetch food after his Toyota Hilux became stranded for nearly 10 hours. Syafiq, who runs a transport business, recounted that he and his two friends were returning to Pengkalan Chepa, Kelantan, after delivering a motorcycle when they encountered impassable roads due to heavy rains. They were met at the Kampung Padang Tapong PPS.