GEORGE TOWN, Nov 5 — Police confirmed five people have died to date in the massive flood that covered roughly 80 per cent of Penang.
The first reported fatality was of a Bangladeshi man who died last night after a tree toppled onto his rented house in Seberang Perai.
The other four were senior citizens, three who have been confirmed to have died by drowning.
Penang north east district police chief Assistant Commissioner Anuar Omar confirmed the death of Chew Eng Lean, 78, from Taman Free School who was confirmed in a post-mortem report to have drowned. She has been found unconscious at home by firemen at 7.32am today.
The second person was identified as Amanullah Shabib Kalandir, 85, who was also confirmed to have drowned. Police said firemen had informed them of his death about 8am while evacuating the pensioner who lived alone in a house on Jalan Perak.
The third person confirmed drowned was Lau Guek Jee, 64, from the Paschal Nursing Home in Jalan P. Ramlee. She was found by the home’s staff to have fallen into the water flooding the home.
The fourth person Chong Sin Thon, 97, was from Jalan Shaik Madar in Ayer Itam. He is suspected to have died by drowning but a post-mortem will only be conducted tomorrow morning.
