Sungai Kelantan overflows, low-lying areas in Kota Baru flooded

KOTA BARU: The water level in Sungai Kelantan at Tambatan Diraja exceeded the danger level and overflowed early today, inundating several low-lying areas in Kota Baru town and causing heavy traffic congestion.
The areas around Jalan Post Office Lama and Kubang Pasu Market were observed to be flooded this morning including the roads, and water level in the river reached 5.91 metres at 10am, exceeding the danger level of 5 metres.
Several business premises in town were also closed for fear of the worsening flood situation as Kota Baru had experienced a major flood in 2004, which paralysed the whole town and caused millions of ringgit in losses.
Remembering the 2004 flood, electrical appliances trader Leong Khoon Seng, 52, said he incurred a heavy loss in that flood as most of the appliances were submerged in the flood water.
"The flooding occured at night and I could not save the electrical appliances in my shop," he recalled.
Leong said to avoid another big loss for him, this time around he had made early preparations to prevent the electrical appliances from being destroyed or damaged in the flood.
Meanwhile, several residents living in the floating houses close to the banks of Sungai Kelantan have also prepared early in the eventuality of floods by tying their floating houses to the anchors tightly to prevent these structures from being drifted away by the strong currents.
"We have secured our houses tightly, but what we are worried about are swift -moving floating logs that could hit our houses," said Ali Shahbudin, 56, who lives in one of the "rumah rakit" (literallly, raft houses).
His neighbour, Mek Minah Ali, 52, was hoping the river water level would subside as she was worried that the river water from Gua Musang and Kuala Krai, which are now experiencing serious flooding, would also overflow and worsen the situation here, as this would usually be the case.
The water levels in Sungai Galas, Sungai Lebir and Sungai Kelantan at the Krai Steps have reportedly exceeded the danger levels.
The reading at Sungai Galas this morning was 45.65 metres, which was above the danger level of 38 metres, Sungai Lebir at 36.13 metres (danger level: 36 metres) and Krai Steps at 32.36 metres (danger level: 25 metres).
It was also observed that some children took the opportunity to play in the flood waters, and the Fire and Rescue Department have advised parents not be allow their children to do that for safety reasons.
"We are concerned that children who play in the flood waters may fall into a drain or get electrocuted, besides endangering their health," he said. – Bernama