Kota Kinabalu: A self-employed got the shock of his life when his house at Kionsom was destroyed by tsunami-style raging waters, Tuesday, due to the swollen Inanam River.Henry, 40, who stayed alone near the river, was among 200 flood victims whose 40 homes were affected in the unusual incident that happened between 4pm and 6pm.
He said Wednesday that the rain had not stopped since 3pm and realised that the water level at the Inanam river had risen to a dangerous level few hours later.
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He managed to escape before the waters swamped his house around 4.30pm but lost all his belongings.
A neighbour, Junmy, 50, who works as a mechanic, said his three rooms plus personal belongings and furniture including electric appliances were damaged in the surging waters but several parts of the house were still standing.
At that time, his 43-year-old housewife, Onong Jipilok and his two sons left the house to buy groceries at a market in Inanam while his eight-year-old son was sleeping at home. "Fortunately my son woke up when he heard cracking sounds like waves outside. He was shocked to notice twigs and tree branches rushing towards the direction of our house.
"My son quickly saved himself and saw how the waters rammed our house wall and went inside to damage our furniture and appliances," Junmy said, when met during handing over of flood aid by Inanam Assemblyman Datuk Johnny Goh at a shop in Kionsom, Wednesday.
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He said his wife and the two sons returned from the market around 5.30pm and could not salvage any belongings in the house. Junmy said they stay temporarily at a relative's home and returned to see condition of the house at midnight when the water receded.
Another victim, Marcus Gitom, 42, said he felt fortunate that the heavy flood only damaged one side of the house and some of his belongings on the five-foot way.
Fortunately, he said he and his wife were at his mother's house when the incident happened while his three children aged 12 to 16 were at school.
Goh said Henry and Junmy will be getting two homes under a scheme of hardcore poor people housing project (PPRT) through City Hall Kota Kinabalu.
He also contributed basic food and other necessities to about 200 flood victims who are staying temporarily with their families, relatives and some have returned to their homes.
