GEORGE TOWN, Nov 7 — The main road connecting Teluk Bahang to Jalan Batu Ferringhi was closed to traffic today after a 20m section collapsed while another portion was rendered inaccessible due to a landslide this morning.
Teluk Bahang state assemblyman Datuk Shah Headan Ayob Hussain, who visited the site today, believed the cave-in was due to unstable slope conditions after the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) laid underground pipes in the area.
"They did not do proper slope stabilisation works after laying the pipes here a long time ago, maybe around 10 years ago, and there is also an underground stream here, so it contributed to the unstable conditions of the slope,” he said.
He called on the Public Works Department and PBAPP to check the slopes and immediately perform remedial works to stabilise the slope so that the road is safe for traffic use.
The road is still closed to traffic as further up, nearer to Teluk Bahang, a landslide had blocked the whole road.
"I don’t want to be pointing fingers at anybody but I hope the authorities in charge do something to ensure the safety of the road; we can see there are more cracks here on the road,” he said.
When contacted, state executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow said slope stabilisation works are an ongoing effort in hilly areas.
He said the Batu Ferringhi road is a high-risk area, but where clearing works are still conducted.
Most flood-prone areas on the island were also inundated today, especially Jalan P. Ramlee that was closed to traffic early this morning due to the high water level in the area.
The state has been experiencing heavy rainfall since early this morning and according to a report by the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID), the state recorded a cumulative rainfall of between 28mm to 105mm.
The Air Itam station and Sungai Pinang station recorded rainfall of 105mm and 72mm respectively while other stations registered between 41mm and 53mm. Only the Sungai Air Terjun station recording a moderate rainfall of 28mm.
Over in the northeast district of the island, about 8 km-sq were flooded this morning involving 21 areas such as Kampung Dodol, Jalan P. Ramlee, Jalan Masjid Negeri, Lorong Kulit, Jalan Perak, Kampung Masjid, Jalan Thean Teik and Jalan Dato’ Keramat.
About 350 residents were affected by the floods and about 15 students, who are sitting for their SPM examinations today at the Sekolah Menengah Abdullah Mushir, were taken to school on boats this morning.
By 11am, the flood waters have partially subsided and some of the affected roads, including Jalan P.Ramlee, are open to traffic again.
Over on the southwest district area, Shah Headan said eight out of nine villages in his constituency were affected by floods this morning.
The villages included those at Kuala Sungai Pinang, Kampung Teluk Bahang, Jalan Baru, Kuala Jalan Baru, Taman Manggis, Sungai Pinang, Kuala Jalan Baru.
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