Tumpat: A 69-year-old mother demonstrated incredible resilience as she navigated through floodwaters to ensure the safety of her disabled son after their home was engulfed by rising waters. Mek Kembang Ya, alongside her 54-year-old son, Mohd Nazu Mohd Noor, made the arduous trek through half a metre deep floodwaters to reach the Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Seri Tumpat 2 temporary relief centre around 9 pm.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mek Kembang shared the challenges she faced, guiding her son, who has both mental and physical disabilities, as they evacuated their home. Concerned about the unrelenting rain since Thursday evening, she feared the water levels would continue to rise. Mek Kembang expressed her worries about a repeat of last year's severe flooding, which caused significant damage to their home, leading her to evacuate with her son and the assistance of her granddaughter.
Currently, the relief centre is providing shelter to 392 flood victims. Tumpat has opened three additional relief centres, accommodating a total of 1,184 evacuees from 537 families. Mek Kembang, familiar with the annual displacement due to flooding, shared her experiences of caring for her son at the relief centre, having to relocate every year.
Another resident, 68-year-old Siti Zaharah Yosuff, also recounted her evacuation journey. Alongside her sister-in-law Zalina Junoh, 53, and her seven-year-old grandchild, she waded through the paddy fields to reach safety at the relief centre by 7 pm. Her home, situated in a remote area on Jalan Hilir Istana Bukit Tanah, was submerged under 0.5 metres of water. Siti Zaharah highlighted the difficulty of accessing help in such isolated locations, recalling last year's floods that saw water levels rise to one metre, destroying her home.
A survey conducted by Bernama in Tumpat revealed the extent of the flooding, with river overflows and persistent rain affecting several main roads, leaving them flooded. Areas such as Kampung Bendang Pak Yong, Kampung Baru Nelayan, Kampung Telaga Bata, and Jalan Tumpat-Pengkalan Kubor were notably impacted, with only larger vehicles able to navigate some roads. Residents in other areas were seen relocating their vehicles to higher ground to prevent flood damage.