Villages badly hit by floods
> Continuous rain in Penang causes 352 to be evacuated
GEORGE TOWN: Continuous rain since early yesterday morning has overwhelmed drainage systems in several areas on the island and mainland Penang.
Some of the worst hit were villages in Teluk Kumbar at the southwest district nearby.
Most of the villages were inundated with water following a downpour which started at about 3am yesterday.
Kampung Suluk, Kampung Nelayan and Kampung Paya were among those badly affected.
Penang exco member for Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Phee Boon Poh said as of 2.30pm yesterday some 352 people have been evacuated when their homes were flooded.
“Food will be supplied to those affected,” he said when contacted by theSun.
At the time of writing, the floods, however, had receded although rain was still falling in several areas in the state.
Checks on infobanjir.water.gov.my (the flood monitoring resource operated by the Drainage and Irrigation Department), showed several areas in the southwest district of Penang receiving heavy rainfall volume.
The areas include Talian Air Besar Sungai Pinang (88mm), Sungai Ara (76mm) and Teluk Bahang Dam (93mm).
Resident Norzali Bahari, 45, said this was the second time his family has had to clean their house after the first wave of floods hit the state last week.
He said this is the worst he has experienced so far and it was caused by the high tide season.
“I thought it had ended, who knew it would come again”, he said.
Norzali, a factory worker said he hoped the state government will do something to help those affected.
Another villager, Mohd Zamri Omar, 46, urged the authorities to act fast in solving the issues.
He said over the past 10 years, flooding has become a norm in these villages and said widening of the river near Teluk Kumbar must be done to prevent it.
Last week about 100 areas in Penang were hit by floods after a downpour that was caused by an inter-monsoon phenomenon experienced in the northern states.