Three houses in Sungai Petani village hit by mudslide

SUNGAI PETANI: Three houses in Kampung Serukam here were affected by a mudslide following heavy rain this afternoon.

The incident is believed to have occurred after heavy rain began at 12.30 pm, causing a collapse at a nearby housing project site, before water and mud flowed into residents' homes.

One of the victims, Siti Aishah Hassan, 44, said her parents-in-law's house was inundated with water to a depth of about 0.5 metres.

She said both of them were already moved to a safe location before the incident as they had suffered strokes.

"I cannot imagine what would have happened if my parents-in-law had been in the house. The heavy rain caused the water to flow strongly and rapidly, and it rose within a very short time.

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"Household furnishings and electrical appliances, including the refrigerator and washing machine, were overturned, while other belongings were scattered. The inside of the house was also covered in mud," she told reporters.

She said her brother-in-law, Rashid Khamis, 44, who was asleep in the lower part of the house, also managed to save himself after realising that water and mud had entered the house.

Meanwhile, Scientex SP Astana project site supervisor Mohd Haniff Ramli said three houses were affected in the incident, including two located within the project site.

"About a year ago, a similar incident also occurred. We sent a team to clean the affected houses and also cleared the road.

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"For now, the residents' houses are being cleaned. After this, we will assess the damage for further action," he said.

It is understood that the affected residents living within the project site had been informed of a proposal to relocate them to another location, but the matter is still being negotiated between both parties.

The housing project is currently in the earthworks and construction phase. — BERNAMA