KLANG: SEVERAL areas here and in Shah Alam were hit by flash floods following a downpour on Thursday night.
Among the affected areas include Jalan Hulubalang 29 in Taman Sentosa, Lorong Bendahara 48A in Taman Sejati, Lorong Mohd Tahir at Jalan Sungai Jati, Jalan Hulubalang 37D in Taman Millennium Sentosa, Jalan Pending 1 in Bandar Puteri, Jalan Balau 13D in Taman Meru Jaya and Meru.
In Meru, the three-hour downpour flooded Masjid Asy Syarif and its compound on Persiaran Hamzah Alang.
During Friday prayers, yesterday, mosque goers were seen using planks and wooden boards as a pathway above the floodwaters.
Senior citizen Bahrom Basiron said flash floods were a normal occurrence in the area during a downpour.
“The flooding is caused by shallow drains.
“When these drains overflow, it causes the water to rise to knee level.
“We have been complaining to the Klang Municipal Council about the urgent need to upgrade drains near the river for years now,” he said, adding that it was learnt that the authorities will be building concrete drains and 30 higher bridges for villagers to get across the river.
Apart from the mosque, Kampung Budiman nearby was also affected by the flash floods. However, the water levels there receded soon after.
Although a temporary shelter was set up at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Binjai by the Social Welfare Department (JKM), only one family was evacuated as of press time yesterday.
In Shah Alam, the downpour had caused Persiaran Jubli Perak to be temporarily inaccessible to motorists yesterday morning.
Siti Aisyah Harun, 29, who lives at Taman Bukit Pelangi apartment which faces the road, said many cars were seen waiting at the nearby petrol station, which was not inundated.
“The water, however receded by the time I left for work yesterday morning,” she said.
Selangor Fire and Rescue Department’s operations assistant director Mohd Sani Harun said a team of seven people had been sent to monitor the affected areas.
“We are still monitoring the situation from time to time,” he said.
In Kuala Lumpur, a City Hall spokesman said that on Thursday night, its Rescue Squad received calls from some city folk alerting the team about flooded areas.
“Among the affected areas were Jalan Rahmat, Kampung Padang Balang and Kampung Puah in Gombak.”
He said water levels rose up to 1.2m but receded about an hour later.
“We had deployed our rescue team to the affected areas but the water had receded by the time they arrived.”
Some of the residents at flood-prone areas in the city said that they, too, were bracing for flash floods.
Nurhana Habib, 27, said she has stocked up on food.
“We have seen many flash floods in the area, so I am not worried that my home will be inundated as I live in a flat,” said the PPR Batu Muda resident.
Another resident in Jalan Ipoh, who only wanted to be known
as Raj, said whenever it rains
heavily, the area sees flash floods which usually recedes within a
few hours.
“Only the roads are badly affected.
“Anyway, residents have alternative roads that they can use in case the main roads are flooded,” he said.
Although Klang Valley folk have been urged to brace for the wet weather, a Malaysian Metrological Department spokesman, however, said floods are not likely to overcome the city.
He said this when asked about the seven-day weather forecast yesterday.
The spokesman said there would be no repeat of Thursday night’s floods in the next few days.
“There is no high alert for floods. There is to be scattered rain all over Klang Valley over today and tomorrow.
“And this is expected to take place in the morning until evening,” he said, adding that evening thunderstorms were forecasted for the next five days.