Malaysia: Alert over heavy rain and overflowing rivers goes out in Kelantan, Terengganu, Johor and Perlis

The Star 21 Nov 16;

PETALING JAYA: Warnings of heavy rain and overflowing rivers have been issued in four states by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID).

This covers selected areas in Kelantan, Terengganu, Johor and Perlis.

The DID flood information website http://publicinfobanjir.water.gov.my/ yesterday sent out an initial warning that villagers in Kampung Sungai Buluh and Batu Bertangkup in Perlis should be careful after 51mm of rainfall was recorded before the danger subsided.

Another warning was issued for residents in the vicinity of Empangan Bukit Kwong in Pasir Mas, Kelantan, after 44mm of rain was recorded as of 5pm yesterday.

Two subsequent warnings were sent out an hour later for Sg Kelantan, Tanah Merah (Kelantan) and Sg Cherul in Kemaman (Terengganu) after 39mm and 46mm of rainfall were recorded respectively.

Separate warnings were issued for villagers near Sungai Muar and Sungai Penarik in Johor when the water in the two rivers reached danger levels.

However, DID did not issue any flood or flood forecast warnings on their website yesterday.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) indicated that more than 500mm of rain had been forecast for Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang and east Johor until the end of year.

The rainfall, according to MetMalaysia, is typical for this time of year due to the northeast monsoon.

MetMalaysia’s weather outlook has also forecast that Perlis, Kedah, Penang and north Perak would receive lower than normal rainfall (less than 150mm) between January and February next year.

Other areas in the peninsula are forecast to receive normal rainfall of between 100mm and 300mm.

Between March and April next year, all states are expected to receive normal rainfall of between 100mm and 350mm.

A metMalaysia spokesman had said floods could be expected if there was continuous rainfall for three to five days. The east coast monsoon, which began last week, typically lasts until March.


Gerik hit by worst floods in 20 years, say residents
The Star 21 Nov 16;

GEORGE TOWN: Residents in Gerik woke up to the worst floods they have ever seen in 20 years.

Muhammad Hafizul Mohd Jonid, 22, shared pictures of the flood along Jalan Takong Datok, which occurred around 4.30am on Facebook.

“We were not prepared for this, but luckily our restaurant was not badly affected as the place is on higher ground.

“Now, we need to clean up before we open for business tomorrow,” he said yesterday.

Heavy rain on Saturday night caused flash floods in several areas in Gerik, Lenggong and Batu Gajah in Perak.

The affected areas were Kampung Air Suda, Kampung Ramasamy, Kampung Padang, Jalan Takong Datok and the market in Gerik, Kampung Beng in Lenggong and Batu 3 of Jalan Tanjung Tualang in Batu Gajah.

A spokesman for the Perak Fire and Rescue Department said one person was trapped in the market after flood waters rose to about 1.2m.

“He was rescued by a boat and moved to a safe place,” he told Bernama.

The water, however, receded quickly and after discussions with leaders of the affected villages, it was decided that the victims need not be moved to flood relief centres.


Dredging work to start at Penang rivers
The Star 21 Nov 16;

GEORGE TOWN: Even as the water level continues to rise and flood homes in Penang, dredging work will begin along several rivers today.

Dredging work will take place along Sungai Pinang, Sungai Air Itam, Sungai Dondang, Sungai Jelutong and at the Sungai Dondang retention pond.

The dredging, said the state Department of Drainage and Irrigation (DID), was part of flood mitigation measures to prepare for the impact of the north-east monsoon.

“We will also clear the drains to ensure smooth water flow,” it said in a statement yesterday.

However, the long-term solution to the floods, which have hit the state for the fifth time in three weeks, will be the Sungai Pinang flood mitigation project, it said.

The Federal Government had set aside RM150mil for the third phase of the project, which is expected to begin next year until 2020.

Yesterday, Penangites again had to struggle with floods when water swamped more than 100 houses on the island and the mainland after a six-hour downpour.

At one time, some areas in Jalan P. Ramlee, Kampung Masjid, Jalan Singgora, Kampung Makam, Kampung Rawana, Lorong Kulit, Kampung Dodol, Jalan Gemas and Jalan Terengganu had water levels as high as 0.6m.

Cumulative rainfall at the Bukit Bendera and Sungai Pinang stations were recorded at between 50mm and 55mm. This was made worse by tide that rose from 1.4m to 2.2m within three hours starting from 11.30pm on Saturday.

Over at the mainland, several areas in Butterworth — Sungai Lokan, Bagan Lalang, Sungai Mak Mandin and Sungai Nyior — also came under 0.6m-high water levels after heavy rain.

With the rain stations in Bakar Kapor, Penaga, in the north Seberang Prai and Ampang Jajar, Butterworth, recording 65mm and 70.5mm in rainfall, Sungai Prai burst its banks, affecting some 50 homes in Kampung Perlis in Jalam Assumption.

Fishermen near Tasek Gelugor are complaining that the wetter than usual rainy season is affecting their livelihood.

Sungai Korok and Air Hitam Fishmermen Cooperative chairman Ramli Hashim said that about 200 fishermen could not go out to work.

“The rainy season has affected their catch as the strong river current is dangerous to small boats.

“So far, we have taken steps to improve the infrastructure at the jetties,” he said, adding that this year’s wet spell was the worst compared to previous years.


Heavy rain triggers flash floods in Perak
The Star 20 Nov 16;

IPOH: Heavy rain Saturday night caused flash floods in several areas in Gerik, Lenggong and Batu Gajah in Perak.

The affected areas were Kampung Air Suda, Kampung Ramasamy, Kampung Padang, Jalan Takong Datok and the market in Gerik, Kampung Beng in Lenggong and Batu 3 of Jalan Tanjung Tualang in Batu Gajah, according to a spokesman of the Perak Fire and Rescue Department.

He said the floodwaters rose to 1.2m in the five areas in Gerik.

"One person, who was trapped in the floods at the market, was rescued by boat and moved to a safe place," he told Bernama Sunday.

He also said that a house in Kampung Beng, Lenggong, was flooded at a depth of 0.5m, but the floodwaters had since receded.

The floodwaters in Batu Gajah had also subsided, he added. No evacuations were necessary. - Bernama



Flash floods hit Penang
CHRISTOPHER TAN The Star 20 Nov 16;

GEORGE TOWN: Several flood prone areas were inundated in the wee hours of Sunday morning after a continuous downpour for about six hours.

Among the areas flooded were Jalan P. Ramlee, Kampung Makam and Kampung Dodol on the island.

Several areas on the mainland were also hit by flash floods, namely in Mak Mandin, Seberang Jaya and Jalan Raja Uda.

In another matter, a 42-year-old man drowned in the Perai River after he fell off a barge at about 10.30pm Saturday.

The Perai Fire and Rescue Department conducted a search and rescue operation and the body was found at 12.29am, about two hours later.

The victim, C.B. Ravichandran, was seen by public, trying to save himself after falling off before being dragged away by the river current.


Heavy downpours trigger flash floods across Perak, Kedah
INTAN BAHANABILAH HAMUDDINSAFURI KAMARUDIN New Straits Times 20 Nov 16;

IPOH: A two-hour heavy downpour, which began at 4am this morning, has caused flash flooding in several areas in Gerik, Lenggong and Batu Gajah.

A Fire and Rescue Department Malaysia (JPBM) spokesperson said in Gerik, water rose as high as 1.2 metres in five areas, namely Kampung Air Sudah, Kampung Ramasamy, Pasar Awam Gerik, Jalan Takong Datok and Kampung Padang.

ccording to the spokesperson, JPMB had to use a boat to evacuate a victim trapped at a market.

In Lenggong, a house in Kampung Beng was flooded by 0.5 metres of flood water. JPBM kept watch on the area until water subsided at 7 am.

"Meanwhile, in Batu Gajah, traffic congestion was reported after water overflowed onto the main road at Tanjung Tualang, but the situation is still under control, based on JPBM monitoring.

"There is no need to open evacuation centres at the affected locations for the time being," said the spokesperson.

In Kedah, more than a dozen villages in low-lying areas in Kupang, Kuala Ketil and Baling were hit by flash floods following three hours of rainfall early today.

The rain, which began at 2am, caused Sungai Ketil to overflow, leaving 50 homes in Kampung Banggol Chicar, Kupang, Tanah Periok, Raja, Bendang Sera, Kuala Samak, Tembak A, Gua Reban and Tanjung Merbau inundated by one metre-deep water.

Also affected are Kampung Sadek, Bukit Tinggi, Jerai and Tanjung. Baling Welfare Services Department officer Shamsul Izrin Ishak said the department and the Baling Member of Parliament's service centre had provided immediate relief to victims.

He said they are monitoring the situation and urge affected families to get ready for evacuation should the situation worsen.

Entire village cut off after landslide buries main road
AVILA GERALDINE New Straits Times 21 Nov 16;

KOTA BELUD: About 800 villagers of Kampung Tambatuon here were left isolated when the main road leading to the village was cut off due to a landslide.

It is learnt that the landslide was triggered by continuous heavy rain, which started at 3pm yesterday.

Four other landslides occurred in the same location, affecting Jalan Bypass Kota Belud-Ranau.

District Public Works Department assistant engineer Sadian Mindou said no houses were damaged thus far.

"However, power supply to the village has been disrupted, as an electricity utility pole collapsed due to the landslide," he said.

Sadian added that clearing works are currently being carried out, and villagers and road users will be able to pass through the affected area by this evening.