GEORGE TOWN, Jan 5 — About 60 areas in all five districts in Penang were hit by flash floods this morning following a heavy downpour overnight in the island state.
According to state executive council Chow Kon Yeow, several areas in the Mak Mandin area in North Seberang Perai on the mainland half were flooded this morning due to the continuous rain but only four households were evacuated.
“On the island, places like Teluk Kumbar also experienced flash floods, these are the usual hotspots,” he told reporters here today.
On the north-east district area of the island, a total 29 areas were hit by flash floods including Kampung Masjid, Kampung Jawa, Jalan P.Ramlee, Sekolah Abdullah Munshi, Kampung Makam, Jalan Kuantan, Kampung Hashim Yahya, Halaman Bukit Gambir, Parit Lumba Kuda, Ladang Hong Seng and Kampung Mutiara in Batu Ferringhi.
The Sungai Pinang river reached the danger level at 2.87mm while Sungai Air Itam reached the warning level at 6.25mm earlier today but the water levels are receding now.
Over on the south-west district of the island, several villages in Teluk Kumbar and Sungai Ara experienced flash floods but flood waters are also receding there.
Over on the mainland, in Central Seberang Perai, a total 25 areas near the Sungai Pertama, Sungai Juru, Sungai Junjung and Sungai Kilang Ubi such as in Padang Lallang, Machang Bubuk, Kubang Semang and Taman Sri Rambai were hit by flash floods since 5am with waters rising to between 0.1 metre and 0.3 metre.
Meanwhile in South Seberang Perai, three villages — Kampung Sethu, Kampung Pengkalan and Kampung Titi Hitam — were flooded this morning.
According to a report by the Drainage and Irrigation Department, the flash floods were caused by surface run-off in most areas after the continuous bout of rainfall since last night.
The early morning flash floods were also due to high tide at 2.48am, leading to high river water levels.
