Residents Caught Off-guard As Flash Floods Hit Lahar Yooi And Labuh Banting

TASEK GELUGOR, Oct 24 (Bernama) -- Residents in Lahar Yooi and Labuh Banting were caught off guard when floodwater suddenly surged into their homes around 3 am today while they were asleep.

Heavy rain since yesterday evening caused floodwater to rise rapidly, and they were only able to save important documents and essential items before fleeing for safety.

One of the residents, Muhammad Haris Ramli, in his 30s, said he and his family were asleep when they were awakened by a neighbour who alerted them that water was rapidly rising.

He said he and his wife and their two children got up to find floodwater already ankle-deep in their home before it quickly surged to knee level.

“We immediately grabbed whatever important items we could, and I only managed to move my car at 4 am. By then, the water was rushing into the house, and my only concern was ensuring our safety,” he told reporters in Lahar Yooi today.

“All our furniture and electrical appliances are damaged because there was simply no time to save anything this morning,” he added.

Meanwhile, Nur Jannah Adenan, 40, said heavy rain that began yesterday evening continued past midnight, and her home was inundated early this morning.

She said she only realised what was happening when her children woke her up, as water started to enter the living room before reaching the kitchen in less than five minutes.

“Luckily, my children heard the flood warning siren and they quickly woke me up. Six of us were at home at that time and we rushed out to save ourselves,” she said, when met at the temporary relief centre in Lahar Yooi.

She said her family had planned for a holiday trip to Langkawi today, but it had to be cancelled as their home was flooded.

As of this evening, eight temporary relief centres have been opened, sheltering 749 flood victims from 225 families across three districts in Penang.

-- BERNAMA