Bernama New Straits Times 15 Sep 17;
LANGKAWI: A powerful storm is wreaking havoc in Langkawi, with continuous heavy rain and strong winds hampering activity on the island and causing widespread damage.
More than 10 vehicles were damaged after being hit by uprooted trees along Jalan Pantai Kok here, while the roofs of several houses were torn off by strong winds at several locations.
In spite of numerous pictures of damage and destruction making their rounds on social media, Langkawi OCPD Supt Dr Che Ghazali Che Awang said no one has yet come forward to report losses.
“They are probably still assessing the damage, but we have deployed our personnel to the ground to check the situation and to offer assistance where required,” he said.
Langkawi Disaster Management Committee Chairman Isahak Murat said three families at Kampung Belak at Mukim Kedawang were evacuated after water levels reached the floor of their homes.
“They are currently being sheltered at the Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Kedawang while waiting for the weather situation to improve,” said Isahak, who is also the Langkawi District Officer.
Earlier, he said that tour operators on the island have been advised to cease their seaside activities for the time being as a precautionary measure.
He also advised the fishing community to continue monitoring weather reports and to seek advice from the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) before deciding to go out to sea.
“The committee’s operation room has been activated at the Langkawi District Office to enable the public to channel or obtain any information regarding flooding or storm disasters that have occurred in their areas,” he added.
The operation room can be contacted at 04-9666963. -- BERNAMA
Storm wreaks havoc in Langkawi, triggers flash floods in Sg Petani, Yan
ADIE SURI ZULKEFLI New Straits Times 15 Sep 17;
ALOR STAR: One hundred people in Kedah had been evacuated to relief centres after their homes were flooded following a continuous rainfall since yesterday evening.
Langkawi was the worst affected area with 59 people from 18 families forced to seek temporary shelter at the SMK Kedawang, while another 41 people from 10 families in Kampung Dakwah, Kuala Muda had to be relocated to Surau Kampung Tengah.
A powerful southwest wind pressure triggered the storm which wreaked havoc in Langkawi, damaging at least 10 vehicles after they were hit by uprooted trees along Jalan Pantai Kok.
Roofs of several houses in the area were also blown off.
The storm also forced the authorities to order tour operators on the island to temporarily cease their seaside activities as a precautionary measure.
Kedah Natural Disaster Management Secretariat coordinator Captain (Civil Defence Force) Saifuddin Abdullah as at 6pm today, the number of floods evacuees remained at 100 people.
He said the several hours of heavy rainfall also led to a landslide incident at Taman Permai Utama in Gurun but there was no report of injury.
Kedah Fire and Rescue Department public relations officer Mohamad Mustakim Mukhtar said eight families in Taman Permai Utama had been ordered to evacuate their homes following the landslide incident.
He said the order was issued after firefighters from Guar Cempedak station, who rushed to the scene upon receiving a distress call at about 3pm, inspected the area.
"Upon inspection, it was confirmed that there was a landslide involving a 30m slope behind the terrace houses.
"The eight families have been ordered to evacuate their houses for safety reasons," he said.
It was learnt that the heavy rainfall which lasted for several hours also triggered flash floods in Sungai Petani and Yan, affecting nearly 500 people.
Flood evacuees in Kedah rise to over 415
ADIE SURI ZULKEFLI New Straits Times 16 Sep 17;
ALOR STAR: The number of floods evacuees in Kedah jumped from 100 to 415 people as of 10pm Friday, with Bandar Baharu in Kulim being the latest area hit following continuous rainfall since Thursday evening.
In the Kuala Muda district, 214 people from 47 families have been evacuated to flood relief centres. They were forced to seek temporary shelter at the Kampung Tengah public hall and surau after their homes were inundated by waist-level floodwaters.
Langkawi was another badly-affected area, with 117 people from 18 families now being temporarily housed at the SMK Kedawang and Kampung Raja public halls.
A powerful southwest wind pressure triggered the storm which wreaked havoc in Langkawi, damaging at least 10 vehicles after they were hit by uprooted trees along Jalan Pantai Kok.
The roofs of several houses in the area were also blown off.
The storm also forced the authorities to order the island’s tour operators to temporarily cease all seaside activities as a precautionary measure.
Kedah Natural Disaster Management Secretariat coordinator Captain (Civil Defence Force) Saifuddin Abdullah said as at 10pm, 84 people from 25 families in Bandar Baharu, Kulim are seeking shelter at the relief centres in SK Bandar Baharu and Dewan Kampung Majidee.
It was reported that the continuous heavy rainfall also led to a landslide at Taman Permai Utama in Gurun but there was no report of injury.
Kedah Fire and Rescue Department public relations officer Mohamad Mustakim Mukhtar said eight families in Taman Permai Utama had been ordered to evacuate their homes following the landslide incident.
He said the order was issued after firefighters from the Guar Cempedak station, who rushed to the scene upon receiving a distress call about 3pm, inspected the area.
"Upon inspection, it was confirmed that there was a landslide involving a 30m slope behind the terrace houses.
"The eight families were ordered to evacuate their houses for safety reasons," he said.
It was learnt that the heavy rain, which lasted several hours, also triggered flash floods in Sungai Petani and Yan, affecting nearly 500 people.
Langkawi still floundering in flood waters; 285 residents evacuated
Bernama 17 Sep 17;
LANGKAWI: Flood waters in Langkawi have yet to recede, with the level at Sungai Kuala Melaka still at danger point.
According to the Langkawi District Disaster Management Operations Room, the river’s latest recorded level reading is 3.58 metres – above the danger level of 3.40 metres.
Continuous rain yesterday resulted in many residential areas and roads on the island to be inundated with water of up to 1.5 metres.
Meanwhile, 112 more flood victims have registered at two evacuation centres here, bringing the total number of evacuees to 285.
Of these, 175 have been placed at the evacuation centre in Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Kedawang, while 110 have taken shelter at the Kampung Raja community hall in Padang Matsirat.
Besides the Welfare Department, various other organisations and private companies here have sent donations in the form of food and essential items to the evacuation centres. -- BERNAMA
Octogenarian among those relocated due to floods in Langkawi
Hamzah Osman New Straits Times 16 Sep 17;
LANGKAWI: An 87-year-old woman was among the flood victims seeking refuge at flood relief centre at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Kedawang here.
Siti Awan Ahmad and her five family members from Kampung Bohor Masjid were temporarily relocated at the centre at 5pm yesterday.
The victim, who is also a popular yeast trader said her house was inundated by knee-deep water due to continuous heavy downpour since 8am.
"I am old and weak. Thanks to the Malaysia Civil Defence Force personnel who helped carry me out of the house before they transported me here," she said.
Kuah state assemblyman Nor Saidi Nanyan and Langkawi district officer Isahak Murat went to visit the 87 victims from 25 families who were relocated at the centre while waiting for flood waters to recede.
The evacuees, aged between seven and 87 are from Kampung Gelam, Belak, Bohor Masjid, Padang Wahid, Tanjung and Bohor Tempoyak.
