A little break from the travelogue ( which I had been procrastinating .. and yet I definitely need to work it til Day 05 — simply for a long belated Siam Shade concert report >_> )
My mum called me last night to inform me that my hometown is flooded. It had been raining non-stop for the past two weeks and the water level had rose drastically :\
I’d only experienced actual flood only once when I was in Primary School. My primary school is located right next to the long and treacherous Pahang River so having panic over water level rising is kinda the norm ( our school field is right next to it ) and it made the students happy because school might just closed for the week until the water subside.
The only major flood I’d heard was from my GrandAunt when she tells stories of old from time long forgotten in a galaxy far far away about the time when they practically had to be rescued via motorboats from the flood.
I’m thankful that it’s not even half as serious as my Grandaunt’s story but it’s still pretty depressing to see and recognise landmarks and places that you know being under muddy water like this:
This is the ‘main’ part of the town actually. There’s the major traffic junction just a bit ahead. Yeah my hometown is really tiny and uhhhh …. not pretty XD;;
Pictures from a dear friend and ex-classmate who’s in Mentakab. More pictures from this forum ( but is in Chinese though you can see the pictures )
What truly worries me is that my Mum said water supply had been cut off ( and will probably continues to be so for at least three days ) and there’s not much food around >_>; I hope everyone is alright at home.
ETA @ 5:00p.m. : Apparently the main roads are all under water too O_o; I can’t even go home if I wanted to since it’s all blocked. There’s no water. Nor fresh meat/vegetable. And the departmental stores are all stripped clean of their instant noodles and canned food.
… it’s another embuggerance alright >_>
ETA 02 @ 8:00p.m. : My Mum just called to inform me that TNB had announced that they’ll cut off electricity for the town tonight. The water level had reached the generator area ( some my ex classmates and families stay there too! >_< )
So there's no water and no electricity. The petrol stations all over are empty too because they can't refuel and most people went off to pump it dry already for emergency purposes. Not like they can leave the town either because the roads towards the two major highways to reach the town are under water.
And the biggest slap in the face? State water authority is forced to empty the dam soon. Yes. A DAM because it faces the risk of breaking from the inside due to the water pressure and level. Guess where the water will flow to? I can’t imagine an extra several feet of fast moving water in my hometown now. The newly updated pictures from the forum I posted above are already gnawing at me.
I hate to be so far away from my family when they’re facing something like this. I can’t even find proper word to describe my fear of flood now because I thought my Mum was joking about it last night. I grew up in the town for a good 18 years and I’d never seen anything like this. Massive flood used to be something that happens to OTHER people on newspaper to this oblivious town-kid.
I’m still holding on hoping that it’s something my friends and family blew up the proportion when they tell me of the news because yanno, Mentakab is so DAMNED BORING. I don’t know what’s worse; me being too far away and helpless and worried here or my family and friends being helpless and worried facing the flood.
This entry was posted on Thursday, December 13th, 2007 at 12:30 pm and is filed under personal, wtf. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
They’re gonna open the dam??? Just to prevent damage on the inside?? Geez~ Is that all their worried about? >X( dont they care for the people at all? Man, the least they could do was figure out a way to direct the water elsewhere. Who the heck left these idiots in charge? =_=|||
Comment by -JiVe- — December 14, 2007 @ 9:21 am
I think emptying the dam is a necessary move when you think about it… Rather than wait till it fills up to the brim and overflow, it’s better to gradually release the water. Controlling where the water flows is terribly hard to accomplish… so it’s something you gotta put up with.
Floods don’t really make me panic since I lived in Kelantan plenty to handle floods. Eventho I never been in one since I started high school.
anyway, remember what he said.. “DON’T PANIC”. What’s important is making sure your family is safe and you have all your important documents safe & sound.
Comment by reins — December 14, 2007 @ 9:34 am
Just to prevent damage on the inside?? Geez~ Is that all their worried about?
Jive : Uhmm.. it’s a move that they MUST do you know ^^;; I *AM* worried about the decision and wonder how much more the water level will rise but it doesn’t mean it’s a stupid one. I rather them flow out the water bit by bit ( at least they announce it before hand ) than to have the dam break from the inside which will :
1. cause a hell load of trouble to already flooded area ( at least the people can control how much water goes out )
2. cost a hell load of money to repair. I don’t even dare to imagine the amount.
3. No clean water even after the flood subside if the dam break down. I can’t imagine the whole state and those relying on the water off this dam go on without proper water utilities for anytime more than 3 days.
Comment by madhatter — December 14, 2007 @ 10:52 am
reins : I do hope my rant about the dam doesn’t strike off as me hating them for it XD; I understand it’s something they must do ( yay school trip to water utilities center as a kid XD ) If I’m to choose for the lesser evil for the whole flood vs dam breaking catastrophe? I’ll take monsoon flood anytime.
I’m mainly worried and panicking about the very idea that my hometown is totally cut off the main roads to reach it now :\ It’s not unusual that water level will rise every monsoon season, but as far as I remembered, it was never something as serious as this..
PS : I’m not worried about water entering my house btw XD; If it even reaches the front garden of my place… the whole town will be under water already ^^;;; I just hope they have enough fresh water and food to hold out til the water subsides.
Comment by madhatter — December 14, 2007 @ 10:59 am
Ouch. The last time I experienced a flood was when I was 6 in Baling, Kedah. We were all worried about snakes sneaking into the house with the water. I hope this flood passes without any more major incidents.
I think about the dam, they have to let the water out. Otherwise the water pressure might be too much for the dam to hold and it will break. Better to have a gradual increase of water level than a sudden deluge.
Comment by mudster — December 14, 2007 @ 7:24 pm
mudster: I heard from my brother that snakes had been sighted ( esp. at those housing area near swampy land ) Apart from snakes.. the locals will definitely have to worry about crocodiles too ^^;;; Oh Pahang River why are you so cruel =_=
Comment by madhatter — December 14, 2007 @ 7:55 pm
Oh man dear. That doesn’t look good!! Plus this weekend is your birthday! And looks like you can’t celebrate with family… Hope everything’s ok there!! Will pray for you and your hometown dearie!!
Comment by Sam — December 15, 2007 @ 12:18 am
Omg that’s horrible @.@ Bad week for it to happen too. And uh, yeah, I’m back ^^;
Comment by whiterabbit — December 15, 2007 @ 3:25 am
Sam: Thank you for the words! My family is fine ( minus electricity and water *coughs* ) but my house is definitely safe from the water ^^
I should be heading home this weekend just to check out on the situation though :\ The water subsided already so I can go back now yay
Comment by madhatter — December 17, 2007 @ 9:46 pm
whiterabbit : Even though it’s subsided now, I heard my Mum mentioned that the water level might rise once more on the 21st :\ Not sure how accurate is that though…
Comment by madhatter — December 17, 2007 @ 9:49 pm