Flooding on Pulau Redang has forced 369 people from 81 families to seek shelter at a mosque in Kuala Nerus. (APM pic)
PETALING JAYA: Pulau Redang and Pulau Perhentian residents have been forced to evacuate because of flooding at the popular tourist hotspots in Terengganu.
Residents in both areas said the flooding occurred suddenly following hours of heavy rainfall, compounded by rising sea levels due to the high tide, reported Bernama.
A total of 369 evacuees from 81 families are taking shelter at a temporary relief centre at the Kampung Pulau Redang mosque in Kuala Nerus, up from 276 reported last night.
On Pulau Perhentian, 44 victims from 11 families are being housed at a relief centre at SK Pulau Perhentian after their homes were inundated earlier today.
A villager, Mohamad Deraman, 68, said the water level rose quickly from early morning, catching many residents off guard.
“Several homes and the main village access route were in almost a metre of water. People had little time to prepare, so many just took their more important belongings and documents and fled to higher ground,” Mohamad said.
He said the rain did not show sign of easing.
A Pulau Redang resident, Azmi Awang, 38, said several homes at Kampung Pulau Redang were flooded.
“Water reached knee level outside the houses, and the road to the jetty is impassable,” he said.
