PEKAN: Relief was written on the faces of villagers at Kampung Temai here today when they spotted a Fire and Rescue department boat entering the severely inundated settlement.
Sixty-five villagers from 14 families were left trapped in their respective homes after the flood waters rose unexpectedly, reaching almost 2m, forcing them to be immediately evacuated.
Since the road into the village which was located about 1km from the main road was impassable to all vehicles, firemen had to skillfully manoeuver
their aluminium boat through the oil palm trees, debris and murky water to reach the village.
Excited at the presence of the rescue boat, villagers who had packed their belongings were seen waving as they eagerly waited near their doors for their turn to be relocated.
Paralysed senior citizen Fatimah Mat Dun called out for help when she realised that firemen had arrived at her doorstep.
The 70-year-old who was seated on a bed in the living room said the water level was only ankle -deep in the morning and she never expected it to rise so quickly.
"My husband had packed all our belongings and we were prepared to leave the house. Everything happened very fast and I am glad that help has arrived," said Farimah who was carried onto the boat by firemen.
Firemen, who were also joined by the media on the boat, later fetched Zuzana Mat Jaih, 24, who was disabled, and informed her family members to wait for the next trip.
Meanwhile district Fire and Rescue department chief Wan Shamsul Effendi Wan Mahmud said his department was alerted about 3pm by the Village Security and Development Committee before a eight-member team began operations to relocate the villagers an hour later.
He said the operations were completed about 7.30pm after all the villagers were sent to SK Kampung Temai relief centre.
Members of the Royal Armoured Corps from the 10th mile army camp in Kuantan also assisted in the operation.