BALING: Residents around Kampung Iboi, Kupang, are still washing their to clear out the sludge left by the water column incident last Monday.
A check by NSTP showed that many of the residents were struggling to remove the thick mud.
They claimed that many of the furniture and electrical items were completely destroyed after being covered in muddy water.
Solihin Azman, 47, said he came to help clean up the house of his sister-in-law, Fuziah Yusof, 64, who was waist-deep in the rising water in the incident.
"I have to use a "water jet" inside and outside of the house. It is quite difficult to clean the whole house because the mud is thick.
"I have been cleaning the house since yesterday and there is still a lot to do," he said when met at Kampung Iboi today.
Another resident, Mohd Azwan Awang Kechik, 42, said following the Monday flood, three houses belonging to his family members were buried in mud.
Apart from his house in Kampung Iboi, he said the house belonging to his mother and mother-in-law were also filled with sludge.
"Thankfully, many people came to help, including the police, various government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), university students, as well as individuals.
"We are thankful that we are being provided with food and cleaning equipment. All we hope is for our houses to be completely clean before the Hari Raya Aidiladha this Sunday," he said.
Meanwhile, Baling District Police Chief, Superintendent Shamsudin Mamat said all members and police officers from each district and department from the Kedah Contingent led by Kedah Police Chief, Datuk Wan Hassan Wan Ahmad, and various other agencies participated in Op Bantu for cleaning residents' houses since yesterday.
A help desk was also set up at the Temporary Relief Centre (PPS) at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Jerai to facilitate residents who want to lodge police reports relating to the loss and damage to properties.