KOTA TINGGI: A 22-year-old mother of two is grateful that her family made it out alive as her house in Taman Aman was suddenly flooded in the wee hours of the morning.
Noor Fatihah Ramlan, who gave birth just eight days ago said that she was still awake at 2am when she heard her neighbours shouting, asking for everyone to quickly evacuate as the flood waters was rising fast.
“The water level rose quickly. My husband helped to carry our newborn Muhammad Aidil Zaquan Dil Muhamed.
“My baby boy slept through it all and only woke up when we arrived at the temporary relief centre,” said Fatihah when met at the Kota Kechil Multipurpose hall today.
She said as she was still under confinement, the young mother was grateful that family members came to help.
“It was a frightening experience as many of us had to wade through chest-high water. Thankfully we are safe,” she said.
The continuous heavy rain that has pummelled the state since Sunday brought six districts in Johor to its knees as flood waters chased 6,345 people out from their homes to 57 relief centres as at 10pm tonight.
At 7pm, the number of victims stood at 3,237 in 45 relief centres, with Balai Raya Kampung Sengkuang in Batu Pahat closing at 6.30pm and Balai Raya Kampung Sungai Tiram, at 7.40pm.
State Health and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat said Muar, with 90 victims evacuated from their homes, is the latest district to be flooded.
Rain also persisted in Segamat which now has 4,921 victims in 40 centres. There is no increase in the number of victims in Tangkak, which stands at 105 in three relief centres, Kota Tinggi recorded 998 in five centres, Mersing (113) in 43 centres, Johor Baru (95) in three centres and Kluang (67) in three centres.