SETIU: Floods in Kerong on the outskirts of Kampung Pelong nearly turned disastrous as water flushed downhill and submerged the lowland, triggering panic among villagers and farmers who feared their livestock could drown.
On Sunday, more than 20mm of rain fell for nearly 24 hours, reminding villagers in Kerong, Kampung Pelong, Kampung Seri Kembangan, Kampung Tok Nandong and Kampung Gerdong of the big flood of 2014 when Sungai Nerus overflowed.
The villagers who were predominantly farmers were moved to higher ground and those with livestock had to move the animals to higher ground.
All road communication to the villages was cut.
Yusman Heri Mansor, a 47-year-old farm caretaker, said he had a sleepless night as the flood water had risen to a level where it could flow into a one-hectare fish pond and allow the fish to escape.
“Six years of raising kelah, jelawat, krai, marbled goby, Sabah gourami, sebarau and 15 other commercial freshwater fish species were about to be washed away in the rising water.
“We could lose everything in an instant,” he said, adding that quick thinking helped to minimise losses.
Yusman said he covered a section of the pond with fishing nets, which he secured with wooden stakes, to prevent the fish from escaping.
He also kept watch over the likely escape route to catch the fish and release them into another smaller pond on higher ground.
He said after the flood waters had subsided, he would drain the water in the bigger pond to check on the fish stock and if necessary replenish with fingerlings of selected fish species.
“We could do nothing to stop the water which had already flooded recently planted Musang King durian trees, soursop, rose apple, matoa and lemon trees.
“As for the fish, we hope to get support from the Fisheries Department to restock the pond with commercial species.
“I also had to move the cattle to higher ground and set up a temporary shelter for the animals which could have drowned.
“I had to do it all alone.”
Yusman said the flood came swiftly unlike the big flood of 2014 when water levels rose slowly.
He said he could not return home to Kampung Seri Kenangan as the road leading to the village was closed to traffic.
“My son had to swim against the strong river current to get across and be with my wife who is six months pregnant and four other children.
“Our house and those of other villages were surrounded by the flood,” he added.
He said no one could stop the wrath of nature, but farm and livestock owners needed to be vigilant and cooperate during the monsoon to minimise losses.
“The monsoon season is not over yet and we may experience a fourth wave.
“This time we will be better prepared, but if it is worse than the third wave then we can do nothing about it and just count our losses,” he added.