A family’s firm decision to stay put at home during the Kelantan flood came at a cost – the life of a 1-year-old infant.
In a recent press conference by the Chief Police of Kelantan, Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said the 1-year-old infant fell into the floodwater in his house at Cherang Melintang, Chabang Empat, Tumpat.
The infant’s mum, who was asleep upstairs woke up around 10:30 PM and realized that her son was not by her side. She looked around the house for him and it didn’t take long for her to find the floating corpse of the infant downstairs.Ā
She then sought help from the neighbour to bring her son to the hospital using a boat. Unfortunately, the medical officers confirmed the infant’s death.
“Many flood victims insisted on staying at home”
During the press conference, Yusoff said many families insisted on staying at home despite the worsening flood and refused to move to the temporary evacuation centre (PPS).
As for the family mentioned above, Yusoff said they refused to move out when the floodwater had submerged the first level of their 2-storey house.
“Due to the stubbornness of the parents, the 1-year-old infant became the 3rd deceased victim in Kelantan. Previously, a 35-year-old man was electrocuted and a 64-year-old man drowned in Machang.”
Yusoff also advised all affected households to move out if the water level has started to rise and not to wait until the water level reaches the danger zone.
As of 12 PM today (December 2), the number of flood victims across the country has reached 129,000. Kelantan remains the state with the highest number of flood victims at 81,661, followed by Terengganu with 36,482 victims, as reported by the Malaysian Department of Social Welfare.
