'Our house was like the Titanic': Ampang resident recalls flash flood nightmare

KUALA LUMPUR: A traumatized Ampang resident recounted the harrowing moments when floodwaters breached her home, reaching chest level within a mere 15 minutes. Nurul Huda Padulli, 39, was among dozens of residents in Jalan Kolam Ayer Lama, Ampang Jaya, whose lives were upended by a particularly intense flash flood around 4:30 pm on Sunday.

She and her family were engrossed in a TV show when suddenly, a torrent of water rushed into their abode. She likened the experience to the Titanic sinking, with furniture and household items tossed about as if in a furious storm.

Nurul Huda's husband and sister immediately rushed outside to evacuate their vehicle, while she remained indoors, desperately attempting to salvage her belongings. The situation took a turn for the worse when the power supply abruptly ceased. She managed to open a window, but water soon flooded in, carrying away more items. She was forced to take refuge on the second floor of her house as the floodwaters began to recede about five minutes after the rain ceased.

This was the worst flooding the family had ever endured. The losses, estimated to surpass RM50,000, included severely damaged electrical appliances. Nurul Huda's family had previously faced flooding in late 2024 and April 2025, but the water then only reached ankle level. The damage was extensive, and she expressed hope that local authorities would improve the drainage system and conduct regular maintenance.