The road to ruin within 14 days
People, trees and hillside road take a pounding from continuous downpour
For two weeks, Penangites enjoyed a smooth ride on Jalan Bukit Lama, the road linking Bayan Lepas to Balik Pulau after it re-opened to traffic following landslide repairs. But the rains put paid to that, causing the road to cave in again as well as wreaking havoc in other parts of the state.
GEORGE TOWN: The unyielding rain of the newly arrived Southwest Monsoon was too much for a hillside road to Balik Pulau that was repaired just under two weeks ago.
Winding along a sheer hillside to the rural western side of Penang island, it took contractors over seven months to rebuild after half the road slid down the hill last October.
But just 13 days after the road was reopened, Jalan Bukit Lama between Bayan Lepas and Balik Pulau collapsed again.
Fortunately this time, it was just the newly added emergency lane section and motorists from both directions will not need to take turns using a single lane again.
State Works, Utilities and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said due to the heavy rain, water had seeped into it, causing settlement.
“People said it was sinking but it was actually settlement. It will be fixed immediately,” he said.
“There are no safety issues and we will not close the road because it is the emergency lane that collapsed and not the two main lanes. We will cordon off that part,” he said.
Zairil said the extra lane was made possible after the creation of a reinforced retention wall.
“Repair works have been hampered by the rain. It will not dry properly,” he said.
Jalan Bukit Lama was built in the colonial days and was one of three roads linking Balik Pulau to the rest of the island.
An 80m stretch of the road tumbled down the hillside on Oct 23 and it was previously reported that contractors had a hard time rebuilding it because it was difficult to manoeuvre heavy machinery on the steep slope.
Meanwhile, other parts of Penang were also suffering from the continuous downpour since Monday, causing evacuation, falling trees and roofs to be blown off.
On the island, at Teluk Kumbar in Bayan Lepas, a tree fell at 3.45am yesterday and hit the house of an elderly couple.
Hashim Ahmad, 76, and his wife Salbiah Man, 74, were reported to be safe and will be staying at their child’s house for the time being.
In Balik Pulau, a flash flood occurred after heavy rain since 3am yesterday.
Religious teacher Muhammad Sauzi Yusoff said a nearby river, clogged with fallen branches and rubbish, burst its banks. Knee-deep water flooded the surau.
In George Town, trees were uprooted in Jalan Biggs, Jalan Mano and Jalan Paya Terubong, while strong winds blew off the roof of a shop in Batu Ferringhi.
On the mainland, 51 people from nine families were evacuated to Dewan Muhibah in Sungai Dua after their homes were in kneedeep water.
Students of SM Mak Mandin and SJKT Mak Mandin in Butterworth skipped school for the day after their schools were closed due to flooding.
Penang Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said short-term measures were deployed to contain the flood situation.
“The existing drainage systems were cleaned up while any damage was immediately repaired to stop the flood from spreading.
“Long-term measures include construction of pump houses in line with the needs,” he said.