GEORGE TOWN, Nov 7 ― The police have launched a joint rescue operation to help about 30 people who were stranded on Penang Hill since Saturday when massive floods hit the state.

According to Northeast District police chief Assistant Commissioner Anuar Omar, they are working with the army, civil defence personnel, the fire and rescue department, as well as Penang Hill Corporation (PHC) staff and volunteers to hike up the hill to rescue those stranded on top.

"All access to the hill was blocked due to landslides, so we have to hike up and bring them down by foot,” he said.

He said there are about 10 senior citizens, two children and 20 other adults trapped on top.

When contacted, PHC General Manager Cheok Lay Leng said there was a group of about 41 people conducting prayers at a temple on top of the hill.

"When the train service was stopped on Sunday due to the landslides, we have asked if they wanted to come down, but they didn’t want to as there was still electricity and water there,” he said.

However, electricity and water up the hill was cut off sometime on late Sunday or yesterday, so some of the group now wanted to come down.

"We’ve talked to them and only 17 of them wanted to leave while the others want to remain up there,” he said.

He added that the rescue team of about 60 started going up the hill at about 9am today to bring down about 30 people including residents, workers and the 17.

Cheok said PHC personnel will assist the trained rescue personnel to look for a safe path up the hill.

"We have to look for a safe path to go up and to bring the people down safely. There are a lot of challenges to consider especially when bringing people of different physical conditions down the hill,” he said.

The funicular train service was closed temporarily after the railway was covered in mud and debris following the weekend storm. Works to clear it are still underway.

Cheok said there were no large open spaces for air rescue of those who were stranded and unable to hike down with the rescue team.

"We will have to look for other ways to safely bring them down,” he said.

Anuar has said the army will conduct an aerial observation of the hill using their helicopter.