ROYAL SIBLINGS' VISIT LIFTS SPIRITS OF TERENGGANU FLOOD EVACUEES

KUALA TERENGGANU, Dec 1 (Bernama) -- The gloom felt by flood evacuees at the Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Atas Tol temporary evacuation centre (PPS), here, was eased today by a visit from the Yang Dipertuan Muda of Terengganu, Tengku Muhammad Ismail Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin, and his two siblings.

Tengku Muhammad Ismail, accompanied by Tengku Sri Setia Mahkota Raja Tengku Datuk Seri Muhammad Mua’az, and Tengku Puteri Daulath Raja Tengku Datuk Seri Fatimatuz Zahra, arrived at the PPS at 10.18 am, and spent time offering comfort and encouragement to the flood victims.

In addition to checking on their well-being and conversing with them, the royal siblings also presented the evacuees with food, essential supplies and financial assistance, contributed by the Terengganu Palace.

They were accompanied by the Terengganu State Secretary, Datuk Zulkifli Ali.

Besides meeting flood victims in Kuala Terengganu, including at the SK Atas Tol PPS, which as of this afternoon housed 57 evacuees, from 40 families - the royal prince and princess also visited flood victims in two other districts: at the SK Simpang Rawai PPS in Marang, and the SK Bukit Guntung PPS in Kuala Nerus.

Meanwhile, a disabled evacuee, Noraini Mohd Yasin, 50, said that, despite the scorching weather since yesterday, she expects to remain at the PPS for another day or two, as the road leading to her home in Kampung Kolam Atas Tol is still flooded.

“Last Friday, floodwaters rose to about one metre inside my house, forcing me to seek shelter at this PPS. Today, the water inside the house has receded, but the road leading to it is still submerged. Perhaps because my village is located near the river, the water takes longer to subside,” said Noraini, who has been using a wheelchair for the past 16 years due to nerve cancer.

Another evacuee, Lamah Abdullah, 69, from Kampung Titian Baru, here, said that she has been accustomed to facing floods since childhood.

However, she said that this year’s flood was the worst she had ever experienced, with water rising to waist level inside her house, leaving her unable to save most of her belongings and furniture.

“In my area, when floods occur, the water usually becomes stagnant. It will take at least a week before it fully recedes. So, I may have to stay here at the PPS a little longer,” said Lamah, who has been sheltering at the centre since last Saturday.

-- BERNAMA