SEREMBAN: Jelebu is said to be Negri Sembilan’s most fertile district and is especially known for its durian species.

       It also receives the least rainfall but ironically, during the Dec 18 floods, Jelebu was one of the worst hit areas.

       That day, seven other states besides Negri Sembilan, were also battered by floods that were described as the “most serious in 50 years”.

       Eleven locations in Jelebu were struck by floods when it rained heavily and continuously for over five hours starting at 6pm.

       The severity of the flooding took residents of the affected villages such as Kampung Chenah, Kampung Poum and Kampung Pah by surprise and they are still reeling from the shock of losing their possessions in a blink.

       Some houses were swept away by the floodwaters while several others only have their roofs left.

       A few dwellings are now tilted while others have been totally “demolished”.

       The floods also took a toll on their crops and livestock.

       Despite the destruction, residents are grateful that no lives were lost.

       Jelebu is relatively sheltered from rain due to its location at the end of the Titiwangsa Range and its hilly terrain.

       In the second largest district in the state, though usually the driest, five of its weather stations recorded unusually heavy rainfall of over 100mm on Dec 18.

       The previous day, the stations recorded rainfall of less than 60mm, which was considered normal.On Dec 18, the station located in Ulu Klawang in Kuala Klawang recorded the highest rainfall of 199mm over a period of five hours, which was equivalent to one month’s normal rainfall.

       Other areas that recorded substantial rainfall were Kampung Chenah (180.5mm), Kampung Chenor (162mm), Kampung Juntai (142mm), Mardi Jelebu (136.5mm) and Kampung Ladang Pertang (77mm).

       Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said the heavy and continuous rainfall on the evening of Dec 18 caused severe flash floods in several low-lying areas near the Sungai Triang basin.

       He said Sungai Triang’s water level rose to 71.1m, which was 2.1m above the danger level.

       “The dangerously high water level caused the road to nearby villages to be cut off.

       “Most of the affected areas experienced rainfall distribution in excess of 100 ARI (average recurrence interval),” he said.

       Aminuddin said the inability of the water from rivers in the Sungai Triang sub-basin – such as Sungai Chennah, Sungai Klawang, Sungai Chempedak, Sungai Gelami, Sungai Kenaboi and Sungai Jelebu – to enter Sungai Triang led to the occurrence of the worst floods Jelebu has ever seen in 15 years.

       The floodwaters in some areas there rose to over 2m.

       Since the disaster was totally unexpected, none of the locals had made any preparation to face the floods, he added.

       The day after the major flooding, many locations in Jelebu were practically inaccessible.

       Only one route – which goes through Kuala Pilah and Kuala Klawang – could be used to get to Jelebu from Seremban as the usual road through Bukit Tangga was closed following a landslide.

       Kampung Kuala Pah resident Zaleha Shaharudin, 65, said all her household items were destroyed after the water level rose to one metre in height.

       “The last time we experienced a huge flood was in 2005 but it was not as bad as this,” she told Bernama.

       Another resident Ibrahim Taib, 62, was worse off as the house where he had lived with his wife and children for 35 years was washed away.

       “When the water level started to rise, my family and I shifted to a car wash that was located on higher ground.

       “Then, at about 2am (on Dec 19), my children woke me up to say our house has been washed away. It happened so fast,” he said.

       About 50 farmers in Jelebu operating freshwater fish farms suffered losses amounting to RM12mil due to the floods.

       Also affected was Taman Eko Rimba Jeram Toi, a recreational forest with a four-storey waterfall that used to attract a lot of visitors.

       Following the floods, the water has turned murky.

       In addition, a landslide there destroyed some of the amenities in the forest, including the gate at the entrance and food stalls.

       To date, enforcement agencies, federal and state government agencies and non-governmental organisations are assisting flood victims by cleaning up their homes and extending food and financial aid to them.