{
  "id": 19126790,
  "title": "‘Our first priority was grandma’ — families share flood ordeal in Hilir Perak",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/our-first-priority-was-grandma-families-share-flood-ordeal-in-hilir-19126790",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-09T08:54:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/11/09/our-first-priority-was-grandma-families-share-flood-ordeal-in-hilir-perak/242596"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Hilir Perak, families shared their harrowing flood ordeal, with their top priority being the safety of vulnerable loved ones. For Mahani Zakaria, a 75-year-old single mother, protecting her disabled son and two orphaned grandchildren outweighed saving her belongings when floodwaters entered her home in Kampung Batu 10, Changkat Jong. Upon noticing the water rising at around 7 pm, Mahani began moving essential items to higher ground. As floodwaters reached knee level inside her house by 1 am, she called the Fire and Rescue Department for help. Mahani, along with her family, was evacuated to the Teluk Intan Municipal Council (MPTI) Rest House Hall relief centre at around 2 am. Mahani, who has lived in the house since she was 14, expressed concern over her ageing home's unsound condition, which lacked a repaired roof. Unemployed and relying on monthly assistance from PERKESO and JKM, Mahani hopes her house can be repaired for the sake of her son and grandchildren.\n\nRizwan Hakimi Faizul, a 15-year-old student, recounted his family's experience when floodwaters reached shoulder level around their home in Ladang Moccis. At about 8 am, his mother woke him as the water rose. Prioritizing his grandmother's safety, Rizwan raised her bed using wood to keep her above the floodwaters. After ensuring her safety, they gathered essential items before waiting over two hours for Civil Defence Force (APM) personnel to arrive. Maria Abu Bakar, Rizwan's grandmother, was evacuated by ambulance to the MPTI Rest House Hall relief centre.",
  "summary": "TELUK INTAN, Nov 9 — As floodwaters rose around their homes, two families in Hilir Perak faced an urgent challenge...",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Bernama",
        "title": "General : Efforts To Address Floods In Melaka To Continue Until Resolved – Ab Rauf",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/09/general-efforts-to-address-floods-in-melaka-to-continue-until",
        "published": "2026-11-09T04:15:51.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}