KUALA LUMPUR – A team of volunteers from the Sg Buloh Parliamentary Service Centre has extended assistance to residents of Taman Seri Alam, Saujana Utama, who were affected by flash floods following the collapse of a water retention pond bund yesterday.
Sg Buloh MP Datuk Seri R. Ramanan reported that over 50 houses were impacted by the incident. In response, he deployed volunteers to assess the situation on-site and provide immediate support.
“The Sg Buloh Parliamentary Service Centre remains committed to safeguarding the welfare of residents. We will work with community leaders and relevant agencies to implement follow-up measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. Hopefully, all matters will be resolved smoothly,” he shared in a Facebook post.
Ramanan also expressed gratitude to the rescue teams, including the Fire and Rescue Department, police, and other government agencies for their swift response in alleviating the situation.
Selangor Fire Department assistant director of operations Ahmad Mukhlis Mokhtar said that the department received an emergency call at 5.15pm yesterday. The bund collapse caused water to flood the housing area. Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities were reported.
Bernama reported that residents claimed they heard a loud noise before water rapidly inundated their homes.
Hafifi Saleh, 38, recounted how he was outside chatting with a friend when he noticed the nearby reservoir, located just 15m from his house, had been full.
“While talking, I suddenly heard a loud sound and saw that the bund had collapsed, sending a strong flow of water into my house and my neighbours’ homes. I quickly grabbed my wife and children, got them into my four-wheel-drive vehicle, and drove to safety,” he said.
The water reached up to 2ft high in his home, ruining most of his furniture and household items.
Another resident, Samsudin Adun, 49, shared that this was the second such incident, the first occurring in 2014, though less severe.
“A neighbour informed us that the reservoir bund in front of my house had collapsed, causing a flash flood. My family and I rushed home and found water about two feet high inside the house. Thankfully, the water subsided within 30 minutes,” he said.
Samsudin urged authorities to repair the bund, particularly since the area frequently experiences heavy rainfall during the Northeast Monsoon.
Kuala Selangor Municipal Council Zone 23 member, Maisarah Ismail, said that temporary barriers would be constructed at the collapse site to prevent further flooding during future heavy rains.
She estimated that 10 houses were severely affected and that while residents had been advised to evacuate, most chose to stay and clean their homes as the water had receded.
“Cleanup efforts and clearing debris from the collapse will be carried out tonight, followed by the construction of a temporary barrier,” she said, according to Bernama.
Yesterday, Bestari Jaya Fire and Rescue Station chief Azrel Izaidi Ahamad reported that approximately 200 homes were affected by the flooding.
While the floodwaters had receded, one low-lying lane remained inundated, requiring water extraction efforts.
“We are still evaluating the need to evacuate residents as the situation shows signs of improvement,” he added. – December 30, 2024