She has been living there for 10 years with her husband, Zaini Mohd Imran, 45, and six children who were earlier sheltered at the temporary relief centre in SMK Rahman Talib when their house located near Sungai Batang Padang was inundated with some areas reaching the neck level of an adult.

According to Rashidah, 32, floods in the area were getting worse in the past few years and each time they occur, most household stuff such as electrical equipment and furniture are destroyed.

“I buy most of the electrical appliances on hire purchase and before I can finish paying my instalments, they are destroyed. This time, I just could not save any one of them as the water came in very fast, all I could think of was saving myself and my children.

“It will take a week or two to clean up the house. In the past, I have come across a cobra or two hiding under the piles of clothes, “ she said when met by Bernama here today.

Meanwhile, Zakiah Hussain, 61, who could not hold back her tears during the interview, said her whole house was covered with mud while the furniture and electrical appliances were destroyed.

“I only managed to save my car grant and personal identification documents in the incident last week.

“I cried when I entered my mud-filled house seeing the condition and the enormous task of cleaning up awaiting me,” said Zakiah who has been living in the village for 20 years.

Rohayu Rasli, 32, said there were also many challenges when cleaning the house, especially when coming across centipedes all over the house.

“It is really tiring washing everything, I am getting tired of this perennial calamity,” said Rohayu who has been living in the house with her husband and three children for 10 years.

Yesterday, two relief centres in Hilir Perak which were opened a week ago following the floods were closed when the waters finally receded, allowing the 95 victims from 24 families to return home.