Normadiah Mat Jusoh, 45, said she had to bring her seven children, aged between five and 21, to stay at a nearby budget hotel after the floodwaters entered their house last night.
“When the floodwaters entered the house, I made the decision to take the kids out of the house and stay at the budget hotel temporarily because I didn’t know where was the nearest relief centre and we just moved to one this morning.
“Not only me, many of my neighbours also stayed at budget hotels and some stayed in their cars before going to the relief centre this morning,” she said here today.
Mariam Sulong, 63, said she and several other villagers in Kampung Nyatoh, Setiu, found it necessary to go to a relief centre after having spent tens of thousands of ringgit to raise their house to a height of 7 feet (2 metres).
“I thought after spending RM30,000 to lift the house, I don’t have to move any more, but the floodwaters still entered the house and I still need to move to the relief centre.
“After the severe floods in 2013, I have to get ready and place my belongings at higher and safer places,” she said.
Five more relief centres opened in Terengganu
Five more flood relief centres were opened in stages in Terengganu since early today to accommodate evacuees in Besut and Setiu.
This brings to 39 the number of flood relief centres that were opened since monsoon floods began three days ago.
Three rivers rise above danger level
The Drainage and Irrigation Department reported that the water level at three rivers in Setiu had exceeded the danger level.
Continuous heavy rain expected over east coast states
Continuous heavy rains are expected in several districts in Kelantan and Terengganu until Monday, according to the National Disaster Management Agency.
The agency issued a red alert for parts of Kelantan and Terengganu, signifying continuous heavy rain exceeding 240 mm a day.
Districts affected are Tumpat, Pasir Mas, Kota Bharu, Tanah Merah, Bachok, Machang and Pasir Puteh (Kelantan) and Besut and Setiu in Terengganu.
Heavy rainfall is also expected in Jeli and Kuala Krai (Kelantan); Kuala Nerus, Hulu Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu, Marang, Dungun and Kemaman (Terengganu) and Kuantan, Pekan and Rompin (Pahang).