Worst flash flood in 30 years, say residents at Ipoh village

The victims of the flash flood at the Chepor Structured Village Plan in Ipoh have described yesterday's incident as the worst to have occurred in the past 30 years.

Housewife Cik Som Idris, 64, said she realised the flood began after the maghrib prayers when water started to flow quickly into ​​her house.

"I panicked because in more than 30 years of me living here, there were no flash floods. As we were caught unprepared by the flood, I only expected help from the security agencies involved," she told Bernama when met at the temporary relief centre (PPS) at SK Sri Klebang today.

Meanwhile, private sector retiree Ismail Husin, 72, said when he saw the heavy and non-stop rain since late yesterday afternoon, he decided to store his valuables in high places because he was afraid of flooding.

"My hunch was correct – when I was cleaning the house at about 8pm, the other villagers started to complain of the rising water level. At about 10pm, we were instructed to go to the PPS because we were worried that the water level would get higher and most of the houses had already been flooded," he said.
 
Bank officer Mohd Redwan, 35, said he was contacted by his mother at around 7pm informing him about the flood. He said he told her to keep her documents and important items in a high and safe place.

"I went straight to my mother's house on a motorbike and saw that the water had started to rise and had entered the house. I brought my mother straight away to the PPS," he said.

The number of flood victims had dropped to 87 people as of noon today compared to 93 people at 8am.