Huge Waves Batter Homes, 23 Families Relocate To Shelters

KUALA TERENGGANU, Jan 13 (Bernama) -- A total of 23 families in the Kemaman and Dungun districts have been forced to seek refuge at temporary relief centres (PPS) due to the phenomenon of large waves hitting their homes near the coast.

Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) Terengganu director, Mohd Zul Khairi Shamsuddin said that 80 victims were involved, with 66 in Kemaman and 14 in Dungun.

"In Kemaman, one PPS was opened at Dewan Kampung Geliga Pantai since yesterday (Jan 11) with 19 families, while the Bandar Paka Village Development and Security Committee (JPKK) Hall began operating as a PPS at 9 pm yesterday, housing four families.

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"Those living near Pantai Geliga and Pantai Paka witnessed wave heights between 3.8 metres and 4 metres with speeds of 60 kilometres per hour, starting after dusk and continuing until midnight," he said when contacted by Bernama today.

He added that the situation is currently under control, but if the wave conditions from yesterday recur, it is possible that more residents may seek refuge at the PPS, though not in large numbers.

"All seven districts, except for Hulu Terengganu, located along the coast are at risk of experiencing similar conditions if it recurs.

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Mohd Zul Khairi added that 200 APM personnel have been deployed to monitor the situation across Terengganu, including in areas that are not at high risk, taking into account the low-lying geographical locations.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) Terengganu director, Rosli Zakaria said that large waves can also be influenced by the perigee phenomenon (when the moon is at its closest point to Earth), the full moon, as well as monsoon surges, though their effects vary depending on specific circumstances.

He said that they expect the large waves and high surges to continue in Terengganu until the end of the Northeast Monsoon (MTL), which is in March.

"For now, the strong winds and rough seas are expected to persist until Jan 18. While the large waves are a normal phenomenon, they will worsen when strong monsoon surges coincide with the spring tide," he told Bernama.

Mohd Shameer Talib, 33, from Kampung Geliga Baru, here, shared with Bernama his experience of narrowly being struck by a roof that collapsed due to strong winds and large waves late yesterday afternoon.

He said that at the time of the incident, he was in the kitchen after moving the furniture from the living room.

However, Mohd Shameer, who lives alone in his late mother's ancestral home, was suddenly startled by a loud crash from the direction of the living room.

"Fortunately, I was in the kitchen. If not, I don’t know what would have happened to me. In addition to the roof, part of the wall was also torn off and blown away by the wind.

"Several electrical appliances and furniture were badly damaged. It’s sad to see so many of my late mother's belongings destroyed and unable to be saved," he said when met at the PPS at the Geliga Pantai Village Hall.

In KUALA NERUS, Manan Ali, 70, a food stall and seafood trader in Kampung Tanjung, Batu Rakit, could only sit in despair as his business premises collapsed due to severe erosion and massive waves last night. 

He shared that worsening erosion over the past few years had severely damaged the two 20-year-old buildings of his shop.

"The structure at the back collapsed on Nov 29 last year, followed by another section on Dec 28.The final blow came last night at 9.30 pm when strong winds and relentless waves destroyed both buildings," he said when met at Kampung Tanjung today.

Manan, though heartbroken, accepts the calamity as fate and hopes authorities will find a lasting solution to help residents in the area, who are increasingly threatened by erosion.

Abdul Wahab Othman, 65, a chalet owner, recounted rushing back from Kuala Lumpur upon hearing about the destruction from villagers.

Massive waves resulted in significant losses, as two of his chalets were completely destroyed but he was .grateful that six other rooms remain intact with only minor damage.

"This year’s erosion is the worst in two decades. The waves and winds have been unusually fierce and terrifying," he said.

-- BERNAMA