BALING: "The water rose by more than a metre so fast, both of my parents and I along with our neighbours were forced to climb up the hill behind the house to save ourselves," said Adam Mokhtar, 20, one of the villagers in Kampung Iboi, Kupang here.
Describing the floods – triggered by a water-column phenomenon – as the worst ever disaster to strike the area, he said strong current had also brought together tonnes of mud and debris.
Adam said the electricity supply was cut-off and he was still in the dark over the condition of his house, located some 200m away from Sungai Kupang.
"Currently, we are taking refuge at a mosque which is located on the higher ground behind my house, with some 50 other villagers.
"It seems my house is still there but some of my neighbours' homes have been completely destroyed in the 4.30pm incident.
"The bridge near our home had also collapsed. The situation is quite horrifying. All we could think of was saving ourselves," he said when contacted.
Adam said he did not have time to salvage any important document or valuable, except for his motorcycle.
"The floods water receded at about 5.30pm, but we can't go anywhere yet," he said.