Eight families at Kampung Mengabang Telipot in Kuala Terengganu have left their homes to temporarily seek shelter with relatives when monstrous waves hit coastal villages in Kuala Terengganu late last night.

Kuala Nerus district disaster management committee secretariat Lt M Ahmad Kamal Hakim said when contacted that the waves wrecked one house and badly damaged two.

He cautioned residents against the phenomenon which the Malaysian Meterological Department forecast to persist till tomorrow.

More than 20 houses at Kampung Tanjung Gelam and Kampung Mengabang Telipot in Kuala Nerus have been inundated by water from the sea.

Villager Zulkifli Yusof, 46, said the tide started rising in the afternoon but the situation only worsened late at night.

“For sure, it has been a restless and anxious night for us. So we are on our guard and have moved valuable assets to a safer location,” he said when met.

Another resident, Yusri A Rashid, 30, said they had experienced the phenomenon before, “but this time the waves were overwhelming followed by strong winds”.

He hoped the relevant authorities would take immediate measures to prevent any untoward incident.

Meanwhile, the Fire and Rescue Department dispatched 27 officers and personnel including volunteers to the area in three trucks upon being notified.

The police and Civil Defence Department have also assigned their personnel to monitor the situation and provide assistance to the villagers.

- Bernama