SERIAN: With less than two months before Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Helmi Puteh is preparing to celebrate the festive season in a modest manner this year.
The 47-year-old laborer, his wife, and their two children lost nearly all their belongings after their home in Kampung Tanah Puteh here was inundated by floodwaters.
Among the losses was their newly purchased set of matching baby blue Raya outfits.
“This flood has caused us our biggest loss yet. Our refrigerator, gas stove, washing machine, sofa, all destroyed.
“The doors of our house are swollen, and our window panes shattered.
“The Raya clothes we just bought were also lost to the flood. Looks like we will have to celebrate in a very simple way this year,” he told Sarawak Tribune.
For Helmi, ensuring his children return to school properly equipped is now the top priority, with the academic year set to begin in less than two weeks.
“Clothes can be washed. A new sofa is not a necessity. What matters most is that my children can go to school,” he added.
Recalling the disaster, Helmi said floodwaters started engulfing their village on January 30, following continuous heavy rain and overflow from Sungai Batang Sadong.
He lamented that his home was submerged under nearly two meters of water.
“The water rose alarmingly fast. Within an hour, it reached almost a meter. We had no time to save our belongings.
“Some of my neighbours lost both their cars to the flood,” he added.
Kampung Tanah Puteh was the worst-hit area in the Serian Division, with over 150 homes submerged and more than 500 residents evacuated to the temporary relief centre (PPS) at Sekolah Kebangsaan Tanah Puteh.
Although floodwaters have begun receding, many houses remain inundated due to poor drainage, making recovery efforts challenging for affected residents.
