Penang bracing for downpour

King tide season to add to state’s annual rainfall

BUKIT MERTAJAM: Monday night’s downpour alone put 200mm into Penang’s rain gauges and flooded several areas, but expect more because there is at least another 500mm to go before Penang gets its average rainfall this year.

And next week is king tide season with high tides exceeding 2.2m.

“If we get a storm during king tide, people need to brace for it,” said Penang Drainage and Irrigation Department director Shukri Muslim.

According to past records, Penang has only received half its annual rainfall until this month.

“On average, Penang gets about 2,300mm of rainfall per year and we got about 1,300mm so far this year.

“This month itself, we received 400mm and 200mm was from Monday’s downpour.

“Between 500mm and 600mm of rainfall is expected in Penang by the end of the year,” he said.

Shukri said this Sunday marks several days of king tide season at about noon and midnight each day.

“If it rains when the tide is rising, people need to brace themselves for floods.

“The extraordinary high tide will not affect only Penang but the whole country,” he said in a press conference at the Central Seberang Prai land office yesterday.

According to Penang flood mitigation committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari, 47 areas were affected, mostly along Sungai Juru and Sungai Junjung.

“Flood mitigation projects worth some RM65mil have been initiated in the district but until they are completed, the present drainage systems are working at their full capacities.

“Three projects worth about RM60mil are expected to be completed by the middle of next year,

Flood mitigation projects worth some RM65mil have been initiated in the district but until they are completed, the present drainage systems are working at their full capacities.

Zairil Khir Johari

while a RM4mil tender to construct a pump house and build a 1km-long bund along the river in Jalan Tembikai will start in December,” he said.

Zairil also announced a RM1mil allocation from the state to deepen the 1.5m-deep estuary in Sungai Juru to help water flow out to the sea faster.

In deep water: A family of seven making the best of their situation in their flooded home at Kampung Tok Subuh, Bukit Mertajam. — MUSTAFA AHMAD/The Star

Braving the waters: (Clockwise from top) Volunteers using a raft to bring flood victims to safety at Kampung Machang Bubuk, a resident surveying his flooded home in Taman Sungai Rambai and children playing in floodwaters at Kampung Tok Subuh, in the town of Bukit Mertajam.