Kampung Iboi Near Baling Hit By Floods Again

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Flood waters again hit Kampung Iboi, near Baling, yesterday, the second time after mud floods killed three people and destroyed homes earlier this month.
According to a video published by Malay daily Kosmo, rising rapid, silt-laden waters almost burst the Sungai Kupang river banks in the late afternoon.
By nighttime, water had risen slightly in the village, it reported.
The Fire and Rescue Department said three families had been evacuated as water spilt into their homes.
In an Astro Awani report, Kedah Fire and Rescue Department deputy director Mohamadul Ehsan Mohd Zain said rescue personnel arrived at the scene to evacuate victims at 8pm.
He said it is likely unsafe to remain home as Sungai Kupang has risen 0.8 metres and was flowing very rapidly.
Meanwhile, village chief Nor Mohamad Husin said the community was on standby and in contact with rescue agencies when heavy and continuous rain began at about 4.30pm.
On July 4, Kampung Iboi was buried under wood debris and sludge, with some houses completely washed away.
The bodies of a pregnant woman and her mother-in-law were found hugging under a pile of wood debris, while the older woman's teenage son was found dead nearby.
The floods displaced more than 1,000 people.
Preliminary investigations by the Environment and Water Ministry found at least one catchment pond in a durian plantation upstream from the village had broken.
The Musang King plantation is located on a steep incline.
It was reported that there was double the rainfall upstream in the Gunung Inas Forest Reserve water catchment area, where the plantation is located.
Kampung Iboi neighbours the forest reserve.
The plantation project is owned by Kedah Menteri Besar Incorporated in a joint venture with private firm Aman Mega Sdn Bhd, which is linked to developer ECK Development Sdn Bhd.
The full investigation report is expected next month. - Mkini

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