As I watched the rain pour down in torrents, I knew it was
going to be a rough week. The dark clouds loomed over our town, and the
sheets of rain seemed unrelenting. For most of us, staying indoors was the
best option. Work and school went on, but outside of that, there was little
activity.
The town of Kuantan, where I live, is situated close to the Pahang River. As
the rain continued for three straight days, the river began to swell, and
before long, it had burst its banks. The water flowed into the streets, and
many residents were caught off-guard. Panic set in as the floodwaters rose,
and people were forced to flee their homes.
Kuantan was no stranger to floods. But this was different. It wasn't monsoon
season yet, and the sudden floods in the middle of the year caught us all by
surprise. As the water continued to rise, homes were inundated, and
landslides triggered by the heavy downpour caused even more damage.
Motorists were stranded, and some were seen pushing their vehicles through
the flooded streets.
As the rain persisted for two straight days, people were evacuated to higher
ground. A nearby secondary school was turned into a temporary relief center,
where many took shelter. Most of us didn't have time to save our belongings,
and we watched as our homes were submerged under water. Road links to nearby
villages were cut off, leaving several residents marooned.
Thankfully, authorities were deployed to help evacuate and supply food to
the flood victims. But things went from bad to worse as strong winds began
to lash the town. Trees were uprooted, roofs were ripped off, and debris
flew through the air, causing even more damage.
As the rain continued to pour down, the town was thrown into chaos. People
were forced to abandon their homes and seek shelter. It was a week of
uncertainty and fear as we watched our homes and livelihoods being swept
away by the floodwaters. But even as the rain continued to pour down
relentlessly, we held onto hope.
After a week of continuous downpour, the skies began to clear. The sun's
rays peeked through the clouds, and we knew the worst was over. People began
to return to their homes, and with the floodwaters receding, life slowly
began to return to normal.
The experience was terrifying, but it also taught us the importance of being
prepared for the unexpected. We may not be able to control the weather, but
we can prepare ourselves for the worst. The flood may have taken away our
homes and belongings, but it could not take away our resilience and
determination to rebuild. |