ANN/THE STAR – Residents along Malaysia’s Port Klang’s coastline breathed a collective sigh of relief on Friday morning at about 5.53am as the anticipated high tide phenomenon passed without major incidents.
Despite the elevated water levels and wave surges, only a few areas experienced seawater overflowing onto bunds and into scupper drains.
Most low-lying areas saw minor flooding, with water reaching ankle-deep, but the situation remained largely under control.
Port Klang Fire and Rescue Station operations chief Mohd Fauzi Ramli said the tide rose to a maximum of 5.9m higher than the forecast of 5.8m but waters along the coastal areas were much calmer and, in most places the waters did not breach the bunds as there was no thunderstorm, as forecast.
In Bagan Hailam, Port Klang where villagers live nearest to the sea about 25 minutes from Klang town, the source found that water levels were below knee deep off Jalan Bagan Hailam while it was knee level at Jalan Syahbandar (Foreshore Road) and Persiaran Raja Muda Musa outside Port Klang KTM Komuter station but the waters receded quickly.
“Our men stationed along the coast noted that the high tide along Port Klang’s coastline was under control despite the waves but there was no major flooding,” he said.
Mohd Fauzi added that bunds along Klang’s coast at Telok Gong, Pulau Ketam in Port Klang, as well as Jetty Tok Muda and Sementa in Kapar were in good condition and held up against the strong water pressure.
Bagan Hailam villager, Gwee Wen Sun, 31, said he was glad that the winds were moderate and no rain as it could have caused the waves to be choppy and water levels to be higher.
Other residents in Bagan Hailam, said ankle-deep water inundated their homes just like previous years but this time the current was strong and people were vigilant.
Mohd Fauzi said his men scouted the hot spot areas of South Port Terminal in Port Klang and later Pandamaran, Bagan Hailam and Telok Gong, and the situation in these areas were under control.
Several members of Klang District Civil Defence, Klang Public Works Department, Port Klang Fire and Rescue Station and Klang Royal City Council’s Swift Action Squad (Pantas) were present to monitor the high tide situation at Bagan Hailam and later at South Port Passenger Terminal.
The National Hydrographic Centre has forecast peak tides at 5.7m with heavy rain at 6.54am on Saturday, October 19, while the next day, October 20, could see a high of 5.5m at 7.29am, along Selangor’s coast.
