CONTINUOUS rain in Penang since yesterday evening caused rivers to overflow, leading to floods in several parts of the state today.

Penang flood mitigation exco Chow Kon Yeow said on the island, Sg Pinang hit the danger level at 2.87mm while Sg Air Itam was at warning level at 6.25mm earlier today.

“The cumulative rain status at the Sg Pinang and Sg Air Itam stations were at 159mm and 129mm,” he told reporters in George Town today, exactly two months from the date in November when Penang experienced its worst rains and floods in 30 years. 

The heavy rain also coincided with high tide at 2.34mm at 2.30am today. 

The drainage systems in various affected villages in low-lying areas could not deal with the surface runoff, he said.

There are no evacuations so far on the island, but state welfare and caring society exco Phee Boon Poh said the Ladang Lada JKKK (village security and development committee) hall is now on standby for two Pepper Estate families affected by a landslide following the rain.

Among the areas affected by the flood in the northeast district on Penang island are Kg Masjid, Kg Jawa, Jalan P. Ramlee, Sekolah Abdullah Munshi, Kg Makam, Jalan Kuantan, Kg Hashim Yahya, Halaman Bukit Gambir, Lumba Kuda, Jalan Patani, Jalan Singgora, Astaka Stadium, Persiaran Perak, Jalan Terengganu, Ladang Hong Seng, Jalan Anson, Jalan Gudwara, Jalan Maxwell, Lebuhraya Nordin, Lebuh McNair and Kampung Mutiara in Batu Feringghi. 

Chow said the flood water rose 0.1m to 0.9m. 

In the island’s southwest district, Kg Sulup, Nelayan and Paya in Teluk Kumbar; Kongsi 10 in Sg Ara, and Jalan Dato Ismail Hashim were flooded in 0.1 to 0.3m waters since 2am following 51mm and 46mm rain recorded in Teluk Bahang and Tali Besar Sg Pinang. 

Short-term measures to deal with the floods are widening Sg Pinang and its estuary, Sg Air Itam, Sg Dua, Sg Jelutong, Sg Gelugor, Sg Air Terjun and Sg Dondang.

Other measure include upgrading the riverbanks, cleaning up the rivers and irrigation systems to clear blockages and repair damaged structures. 

The long-term solution for the island is the flood-mitigation project for Sg Pinang, for which the state has been seeking federal funds.

On the mainland, 21 people from nine families were evacuated to the Mak Mandin evacuation centre this morning.

The areas flooded in 0.1m to 0.3m waters were the flats, industrial area, Tamil primary school, secondary school and kampung in Mak Mandin.

“The cause of the flood there is the continuous rain and the poor drainage system that was also blocked by rubbish,” Chow said.

In central Seberang Prai district on the mainland, many areas were also flooded with water level rising 0.1 to 0.3m since 5am. 

Areas flooded are Permatang Rawa, Padang Lalang, Taman Sri Rambai, Taman Desa Damai, Taman Makok, Taman Kota Permai, Machang Bubok, Kebun Sireh, Jalan Baru, Taman Siakap, Kampung Tok Panjang, Kubang Semang, Taman Sukun, Taman Senangin, Tenggiri, Kampung Gajah Mati, Bukit Teh, Pala industrial area, Kampung Tok Konan, Taman Usaha, Taman Impian and Impian Jaya, Kampung Haji Musa, Kampung Dock, Taman Sri Permai and Tanah Liat. 

Phee said a family of five were evacuated to Sekolah Agama Kafa Nahdatul Islah Kebang Semang in Penanti at 8am today. 

In southern Seberang Prai, five houses in Kg Sethu, six in Kg Pengkalan and four in Kg Titi Hitam were flooded at 7am. – January 5, 2018.