Flood Situation in Terengganu: A Recovery Story

Initial Floods and Spread

Terengganu experienced its first floods of the season on the afternoon of November 19, starting in Kemaman, where 12 people from two families were affected at the Rumah Mampu Milik (RMM) Teluk Kalong housing area. The floods later spread to Setiu, Hulu Terengganu, Marang, and Dungun, with the number of evacuees rising to 2,831 in 14 relief centres on the second day. Improved weather led to a decline in evacuees later that evening.

Resurgence and Peak

By the third and fourth days, only Kemaman remained affected, with 29 evacuees at a single relief centre. However, deteriorating weather on November 22 caused a resurgence of flood victims, with floods once again hitting Marang, Setiu, Dungun, Hulu Terengganu, and Besut becoming the next district to be impacted. The flooding persisted for several days, and heavy rain on the morning of November 27 caused the number of evacuees to surge, exceeding 10,000 by midday on November 28. At that time, 10,228 evacuees from 3,022 families were housed in 150 relief centres, with Kuala Nerus becoming the latest district affected by 4 pm that day.

Two days later, Kuala Terengganu was also impacted, making all eight districts in the state flood-affected. The number of evacuees peaked at 43,581 on the morning of December 1, involving 11,757 families across 306 relief centres.

Decline and Recovery

The following day, the number of evacuees began to decline as the weather improved. Besut became the first district to recover on Tuesday after recording the highest number of evacuees for several days, followed by Kemaman on Wednesday; Hulu Terengganu, Marang, Dungun, and Kuala Terengganu on Thursday. Kuala Nerus and Setiu completed the recovery today.

Fatalities and Lessons Learned

During this first wave of floods, Terengganu recorded two drowning cases, confirmed by police as flood-related fatalities. The incident served as a reminder of the importance of flood preparedness and the need for continuous improvement in disaster management strategies.

Conclusion

Terengganu has finally recovered from the first wave of floods caused by the Northeast Monsoon. The state’s swift response to the disaster, combined with the resilience of its citizens, has helped to mitigate the impact of the floods. As the state moves forward, it is crucial to learn from the lessons of this flood event and continue to improve its disaster management capabilities.

FAQs

Q: What was the initial number of evacuees affected by the floods?
A: The initial number of evacuees was 2,831 in 14 relief centres.

Q: How many districts in Terengganu were affected by the floods?
A: All eight districts in Terengganu were flood-affected.

Q: What was the peak number of evacuees during the floods?
A: The peak number of evacuees was 43,581 on December 1.

Q: How many families were affected by the floods?
A: A total of 11,757 families were affected by the floods.