Malaysia: Penang crippled by floods, described as 'worst in years'

Tens of thousands of Penangites woke up to massive flash floods, triggered by overnight downpour, which crippled many parts of Penang today.
AUDREY DERMAWAN and MOHAMED BASYIR New Straits Times 15 Sep 17;

GEORGE TOWN: Tens of thousands of Penangites woke up to massive flash floods, triggered by overnight downpour, which crippled many parts of Penang today.

Traffic on most of the main roads were paralysed when vehicles were submerged in floodwaters between 0.3m and 0.6m in depth. More than 20 vehicles were trapped in the floods.

Houses in over 100 locations throughout the state were inundated in floodwaters, with some rising chest-high. Rescuers evacuated 17 people, including eight children who were trapped in their houses as a result of the floods as a downpour continued to pummel the state.

Schools, markets and an old folks home were also not spared. Thirteen senior citizens, four of whom bedridden, were carried by volunteers to the Caunter Hall Tua Peh Kong temple.

A funeral wake at a house in Taman Lumba Kuda, Batu Gantung, was complicated by floodwaters, which almost came up to the casket.

According to a villager, known only as Tan, in his 60s, this was the worst flood to hit the state since 1995.

"Everything happened so fast. The skies were clear when I woke up at 6am today. In less than an hour, the floodwater had risen up to hip-level.

"There was not much we could do," he told the New Straits Times.

Among the worst hit areas on the island were Jalan Kebun Lama, Jalan Masjid Negeri, Parit Lumba Kuda, Jalan Langkawi, Jalan P. Ramlee, Kampung Masjid, Kampung Makam, Jalan Kampung Jawa, Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, Kampung Paya, Kampung Nelayan, Kampung Sulup, Persiaran Relau, Taman Iping, Jalan Tengah Pondok Upeh and Taman Seri Indah.

Areas affected on the mainland included Mak Mandin, Jalan Bagan Jermal, Jalan Permatang Pauh, Taman Cantek, Jalan Bukit Tengah, Jalan Jelawat, Taman Senangin, Bertam Indah, Jalan Ong Yi How, Taman Bunga Raya , Kampung Bagan Jaya, Kampung Simpah , Lorong Perusahaan, Jalan Thamby Kechik, Bagan dalam and Kampung Sethu.

Power was also cut in Bandar Baru Air Itam after a substation was seen up in smoke.

Nearby the Taman Thean Teik substation, a couple was spotted perched on a rooftop when their house was almost completely submerged in water.

Forty people from 19 families in Teluk Kumbar, and a senior citizen from Mak Mandin were evacuated to a temporary shelter. They have since returned home.

Penang Civil Defence Department director Pang Ah Leh said they placed members on alert and several vehicles, including lorries and boats, were deployed to affected areas.

Trees were also uprooted while four landslips were reported on the island. At the Kayangan Puri Mutiara Apartment parking lot in Medan Fettes here, six cars were buried in an avalanche of mud.

Several flights to and from the Penang International Airport here were also reportedly delayed.

A Rapid Penang bus was also caught in the floodwaters, with most of its commuters soaked.

As of press time, a 29-year-old woman was reported missing after she was swept away by strong currents.

A Paya Terubong Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said the victim is believed to have fallen off her motorcycle into a 1m-deep drain.

"A search operation has been activated to look for the victim. We believe she may have been swept into the nearby river," he added.

State Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow blamed the flash floods on the inter-monsoon phenomenon experienced by the northern states.

Penang recorded the highest amount of rainfall ever in the state's history, which contributed to the floods in several areas.

State Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the highest amount of rain was 270mm, measured earlier today at the Air Itam dam.

"A month’s worth of came down within four hours, resulting in the flood we saw today.

“The dam was also filled up to 91.1 per cent by 12.15pm today compared to 74.6 per cent yesterday.

"The Teluk Bahang dam received 180mm of rainfall today, which is really high," he told a press conference.

Citizens Awareness Chant Group (Chant) adviser Yan Lee urged the Penang Island City Council's hillslope special team to inspect and hold a public consultation to inform the people that all development projects approved by the council are safe.

Meanwhile, numerous photos and video footages of the devastation caused by the flash floods spread throughout social media. Netizens also shared images of ‘teh tarik’-coloured water which inundated various parts of the island.

Amid the flash floods, netizens also took to social media to vent their frustration at the Penang government. They also poked fun at Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's now-famous saying "Tak hujan tak banjir" (No rain, no floods).


Heavy rains trigger massive floods in Penang
lo tern chern The Star 15 Sep 17;

BUTTERWORTH: Heavy rains lashed Penang, resulting in flash floods on Friday.

State Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said as of 7.30am, floods were reported in Mak Mandin and Taman Cantik on the mainland.

In his Facebook post, he said areas in the island that were affected were Ayer Itam, Jalan P. Ramlee, Jalan Datuk Keramat, Jalan Thean Teik, Relau, Jalan Masjid Negeri, Jalan Lumba Kuda, Kampung Kubur, Teluk Bahang, Jalan Perak and Bayan Baru.

A minor landslide was also reported in Tanjung Bungah. Several cars were damaged, but no casualties were reported.

The sea tide is expected to continue rising due to the heavy rains.


Over 100 homes flooded, cars seen floating in Penang
lo tern chern, arnold loh, and crystal chiam The Star 15 Sep 17;

BUTTERWORTH: More than 100 homes in Penang were flooded after Friday's downpour.

According to the Fire and Rescue Department, the affected areas were 60 houses in Kampung Malaysia and Mak Mandin, Taman Cantek (12), Kampung Sethu (20) and Kampung Permatang Rawa (20).

Floods were also reported in 32 locations which include Jalan Bagan Jermal, Jalan Ong Yi How, Jalan Thamby Kechik, Tingkap Siakap 11, Taman Senangin, Kampung Bagan Jaya, Kampung Simpah, Kampung Perlis, Taman Segemal and the Jalan Nangka flat.

Department spokesman Mohd Azman Hussin said so far, no evacuations were necessary, but firemen were on standby.

The highway exit road from the North-South Expressway leading into Jalan Permatang Pauh in Seberang Jaya have also been closed due to floods.

The morning rush hour has been brought to a standstill by massive floods after a downpour that lasted all night.

All main routes to Penang's central business district are cut off by knee-deep to chest-high flood waters from 6am Friday.

In George Town, cars were seen floating at Bandar Baru Air Itam and Paya Terubong.

Firemen were spotted trying to secure several floating cars in Lebuhraya Thean Teik as thousands of residents dare not leave their high-rise homes for work.

A video of pupils at a private school sitting in a classroom with knee-deep muddy water has also begun circulating on social media.

In Tanjung Bungah, six cars were damaged in a landslide at the Kayangan Puri Mutiara Apartment in Medan Fettes.

Mohd Azman said firemen arrived at the scene at 7.30am.

"We conducted checks on the vehicles and removed fallen trees. No one was trapped," he said.

The work of removing the vehicles is being carried out by the Public Works Department and Penang Island City Council workers.


Flood warning sounds in Batu Ferringhi
arnold loh The Star 15 Sep 17;

GEORGE TOWN: A flood warning siren has been heard in Batu Ferringhi, cautioning residents that Sungai Satu's water level is rising again.

Batu Ferringhi Village Security and Development Committee secretary A. Sugumaran said the siren went off at about 7.30pm on Friday.

He said that this was a flood warning and not for an impending storm.

He added that the high tide in Batu Ferringhi is expected at around 10.30pm and could cause the river to swell again.

A flood warning was sounded earlier at 3pm as well. However, no alert was sounded for Friday morning's flood as waters began to rise at 5am when no one was manning the system.

Sugumaran said that the river broke its banks at 7am and flooded Kampung Kubur in 1.5m of swift-moving water.

"It was the first time in the living memory of Batu Ferringhi folk that floodwaters were almost at neck level," he said, adding that the committee had distributed 120 packs of meals as flood relief for the villagers.

Many parts of Penang island were struck by massive flash floods following heavy rain on Friday morning.


About 20 flights delayed in Penang due to bad weather
cavina lim The Star 15 Sep 17;

GEORGE TOWN: Almost 20 flights were delayed at the Penang International Airport here due to bad weather conditions.

The airport's senior manager Ramzi Ahmad said there were a total of eight delayed arrivals and 10 delayed departures Friday, comprising both domestic and international flights.

"This was due to bad weather conditions and not caused by the airport facilities," he said.

Ramzi said the longest estimated delayed time was not more than an hour for each flight.

"The delay is for the passengers' safety and it is always good to take precautions," he said.

Ramzi added that he had not received any reports from airlines regarding passenger complaints over the delayed flights.


104 Penang folks remain at flood relief centres
AUDREY DERMAWAN Straits Times 17 Sep 17;

GEORGE TOWN: Some 104 people affected by Friday's massive flash floods are still staying in four flood relief centres currently operating the state.

According to the Fire and Rescue Department, 31 people are being housed in the southwest district, Seberang Prai Utara (17 people) and Seberang Prai Tengah (56 people) as of 11pm yesterday.

The flood relief centres in the northeast district and Seberang Prai Selatan have since closed.

Earlier yesterday, the department said there were 559 people placed in seven flood relief centres in all five districts in the state

Tens of thousands of people woke up to a wet Friday which crippled many parts of Penang.

The flash floods also claimed the life of 30-year-old factory worker Noor Afidah Yahunas, who was reported missing after she fell from her motorcycle into a culvert in Paya Terubong, while on her way back from work.

Intense heavy downfall has contributed to the flash floods according the state government.