Tumpat: The monsoon season not only changes river levels but also changes livelihoods. For several small and medium industry (SME) traders in this district, a week spent at temporary evacuation centres translates into lost income after homes and shops were inundated since the first wave of flooding hit last Sunday.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Norizan Jusoh, 56, a single mother from Kampung Periuk who has run the 'Kak Zae Aye Cobek' eatery for the past three years, has seen her livelihood completely shuttered by the flood. The water level has risen knee-high in her shop, submerging it on both sides, and resulting in a loss of more than RM500 this week. Since being housed at the SK Kubang Batang relief centre, Norizan has been completely dependent on aid.

Her son inspected the shop as floodwaters receded, but the situation remains precarious due to mudflow from a nearby housing project. Trader Fadli Yatif, 48, from Kampung Talak, also suffered losses when his aluminium glass shop was flooded ankle-deep. His house was almost submerged thigh-high, resulting in damaged raw materials like plywood and aluminium, leading to losses of almost RM2,000. The flood was unexpected, possibly due to blocked drainage causing water to rise quickly.

For Rosdi Mat, 61, a vegetable seller from Kampung Bendang Luas, the floods disrupted his daily routine of going to the morning market. The water rose to his calf in the kitchen, forcing him to evacuate early with no time to save his sales stock, severely affecting his income. He has been in the business for 11 years and sells vegetables all over Tumpat.

Siti Fatimah Ab Latif, 33, a biscuit, cake, and pudding trader from Kampung Menjual, said her house was flooded to the knees inside and waist-high outside, forcing her family to move to the relief centre. The family's weekly income of RM100 is lost, and her husband, a labourer, has no work when it rains.

All the traders wish for now is for the weather to improve so they can clean their homes and shops and resume business to support their families.