Knee-deep Flash Floods Catch Bukit Rambai, Tanjung Minyak Residents Off Guard

MELAKA, July 12 (Bernama) -- Most flood victims in Bukit Rambai and Tanjung Minyak were caught off guard yesterday as flash floods surged to knee level within hours, with no time to salvage their furniture or appliances.

Fadilah Misran from Taman Rambai Jaya said she and her four children, aged 12 to 26, were at home when water from a nearby river suddenly rushed in, rising from ankle to knee level in a short while.

The 40-something single mother said panic struck as they scrambled to evacuate, leaving their belongings behind.

The family, who have been renting in the area for 20 years, moved to the Sekolah Kebangsaan Tanjung Minyak 2 temporary relief centre (PPS) at around 7.30 pm last night.

"I thought the rain would be just for a while and wouldn't bring flooding with thick mud. Everything was just ruined. Nothing could be saved.

"It's heartbreaking because we bought all of it on instalments. Replacing them will be tough. But I have to accept it as a test," the factory worker told Bernama at the PPS today.

Meanwhile, her neighbour Roma Sumpeno, 45, said this was the third flood to hit the area since 2021, but this time was the worst yet, causing extensive damage.

The housewife said she was grateful, however, that her family of eight managed to escape before being trapped in their home.

"Now we have to buy new electrical items and furniture, beds, mattresses and a refrigerator. It means more debt," she said.

Elsewhere, Zahara Ismail, 80, from Kampung Tanjung Minyak, said the floods were an immense challenge for her and her husband, Abd Wahab Osman, also 80, as they live by themselves.

All their furniture and electrical items were ruined, and they had to clean their flooded home themselves.

"My husband went back earlier to check on the house and told me the refrigerator and other items were badly damaged. He's been tidying up alone so far, but he doesn't have the strength of a younger person," said Zahara, who is in a wheelchair due to weak legs. 

Yesterday, Melaka Irrigation and Drainage Department director Mohd Adnan Ahmad Fauzi was reported as saying that high rainfall in Melaka Tengah and Alor Gajah, exceeding levels recorded during Tropical Storm Senyar late last year, was among the causes of the floods.

He was quoted as saying the highest cumulative rainfall, exceeding 100 millimetres, was recorded in both districts at 2.30 pm.

-- BERNAMA