Kelantan flood victims plead for aid, via social media

by Eileen Ng
The Malaysian Insider
27 December 2014

Desperate victims of the Kelantan flood and their families have turned to social media for help, pleading for food and water supplies in areas cut off by rising waters.

They have inundated the Info Banjir Kelantan community Facebook page since Thursday, and also via Twitter and Instagram social networks with pleas for help from the authorities to help evacuate those affected.

“THIS IS A PLEA – PLEASE REPOST/SHARE The people of Guchil, Kuala Krai, Kelantan are experiencing Food/Water/Power Outage,” Abby Latif posted on her Instagram account this morning.

She went on to relate that the local mosque, Masjid Guchil at Guchil 4 was not a registered relief centre and have not received any medical or food supplies despite housing some 200 families seeking refuge from the floods.

“Every 2 hours we can see helicopters passing by but no one has dropped any medical/food supplies. People are sick from trauma and coldness.

“Although the water is decreasing fairly well but still we are cut out from outside communications. Maxis and Digi lines are out of service – only Celcom working.

“By tomorrow – most of us will out of: 1. Candles 2. Batteries for Torchlights 3. Gas to cook 4. Food,” she said.

In an earlier post, Abby also related that some looting had occurred in the village while a local 7-Eleven convenience outlet had given away food and drinks during rising waters two days earlier.

Across Kelantan, thousands remain trapped in their homes amid rising waters, without electricity, clean water and food.

There are also many who have fled their homes to higher grounds but are without food, water and shelter, and have yet to be rescued by the authorities.

Photos and videos of the flood as well as Whatsapp conversations of the affected victims were posted on the page.

SafwAn SyAzwan said the situation in Tanah Merah, Kelantan, was critical, with even the evacuation areas affected by the flood.

“Please send food. The victims are trapped and hungry. We cannot call the police, fire department and flood department. There is no electricity. Total connection is lost,” he posted.

Anggerik Day Sa pleaded with the authorities to help save her aunt at Kampung Lubok Cekok located in Pasir Mas, Kelantan.

She said various means had been tried to rescue her family but without success.

“There are old folks, children and a two-month-old baby, please help.”

Hazman Ali also wrote that he lost contact with his family who live in Kampung Gertak Lembu two days ago. The last he heard was that they are trapped in the second floor of their house, and that flood waters had reach above head level.

He said the family comprised his parents, his siblings and children totalling 20 people.

“Please let the rescuers know of this to help my family, may Allah repay your good deeds,” he said.

Nurul Asmy Che Rameli revealed that a rural village called Kampung Kemubu in Dabong have lost contact with the outside world for five days and the status of the villagers are still unknown.

“The entire village is inundated with flood waters, the villagers are hiding at a nearby hill… please help… rescuers and food has (sic) yet to arrive,” she said.

Posting an aerial view of Dabong – one of the worst affected areas in the east coast state – which is inundated by muddy flood waters, Aida Zakaria said she had lost contact with the husband who had been there for the past four days.

“I heard he is currently at a shelter above a hill. Please send immediate help. There is no latest information coming out from Dabong,” she said.

Improverished Kelantan is one of the worst hit states, with more than 32,000 people evacuated since two days ago. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has cut short his US holiday and is due to arrive in Kota Baru today to oversee the flood relief operations.

Close to 120,000 people have been evacuated in Terengganu, Pahang, Perak, Kedah and Perlis since the floods started earlier this week. – December 27, 2014.