KUCHING: Flood victims of Kampung Sungai Lumut here are calling on the local authorities to put up warning siren of impending floods when a heavy downpour occurs.
An affected villager, Kamariah Ramli, 46, said she has been facing the same situation each time there is a flood in the past 25 years.
She said if the local authorities were able to warn residents in the area whenever there was a threat of flood, it would be easier for her family and other residents to save their valuable belongings.
“In the latest incident, we only knew of a flood when water had reached our beds at about 4am and as usual our car, motorcycle, washing machine and refrigerator were damaged,” the mother of three told Bernama.
Her house located in Kampung Sungai Lumut was inundated with knee-level water after eight hours of non-stop rain.
She said if the local authorities were able to give early warning, her family would move the car and motorcycle to a safe place earlier.
“My car had already been repaired seven times due to floods and it is taking a heavy toll on us,” said the trader in the village hawker centre.
Meanwhile, her neighbour, Dermatasiah Abdullah, 53, hoped police would provide better security of her house during a flood.
“When we villagers were evacuated our homes, valuable items were stolen our from flooded houses,” she said.
In this regard, two evacuation centres in Kampung Sungai Lumut hall and Surau Ar Rahman housing 59 victims from 14 families were closed when flood water receded.
Nonetheless, villagers are fearful that this is only a start and they are expecting a bigger flood in early February. – Bernama
