Residents around the coastal areas in Terengganu breathed a huge sigh of relief when the threats of tropical storm Sonamu did not materialise in the east coast states.

A senior citizen, Suri Dollah, 77, said fearing the worse as her house was located only 20 metres away from the beach, she had resorted to staying at her relative’s home last night.

“I’m grateful that nothing bad happened,” she said after returning to her home at Kuala Abang in Kuala Terengganu today.

For Halimah Osman, 58, although the predicted storm had prompted her to keep important documents and items, she still chose to stay in her own house as she believed that the storm would not be as terrible as the one she experienced in 1984 where a cargo vessel was washed ashore in Tanjung Jara.

“I never saw a storm like that any more. The bad weather, strong winds and rough seas yesterday were normal for us in coastal areas,” she said.

Another resident in Kuala Ibai beach, Mohd Yassin Abdullah, 55, admitted that he was afraid as he vividly remembered the massive floods that once hit the state.

“I can’t even sleep at night. I’ve already packed my bags but I’m so grateful to see the good weather today and to learn that the storm has backed off,” he said.

Meanwhile, in KOTA BARU, Kelantan state secretary Dr Zainuddin Ibrahim said the residents should stay vigilant and follow the storm’s development and official statements made from time to time by the government through the mass media.

“We would like to advise the residents, especially those in coastal areas, not to panic or take hasty action when issued with the warning about storm or bad weather condition,” he said.

- Bernama