ALOR STAR – Fire and Rescue Department personnel were deployed to evacuate over 50 residents in three settlements in Gurun that were hit by flash floods early today, following several hours of continuous downpour.
Kedah Fire and Rescue Department director Sayani Saidon said rescuers from the Guar Chempedak and Yan fire stations were despatched to Taman Gurun Jaya and Kampung Ibor after receiving distress calls about 4.35am.
“Acting on the distress calls, the rescuers assisted the evacuation of 10 victims from four families in Taman Gurun Jaya.
“The rescuers also assisted 13 victims in Kampung Ibor to evacuate after 50 houses were inundated by half a metre of flood water, with the assistance of policemen and rescuers from the Civil Defence Department,” she said in a statement.
Sayani added that rescuers from Guar Chempedak fire station were also despatched to assist a family of three in Kg Sungai Bongkok who were trapped after the settlement was hit by flash flood about 7.30am.
“All the affected families are seeking shelter at their respective relatives’ homes and no flood relief centre has been activated for now,” she said.
On Monday, the Meteorological Department urged the people in Kedah to be on alert for the arrival of the west and north-western winds by Wednesday.
Its state director Muhammad Khalil Ab Aziz had said that strong winds, followed by heavy rain and thunderstorms, were expected to last up to seven days.
Source: NEW STRAITS TIMES
