Penang has advised residents to stay alert for flash floods and landslides after a night of heavy rain and high tide, with more rain forecast through 26 Oct.
State infrastructure committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the Malaysian Meteorological Department had forecast rain from 24 to 26 Oct. Continuous downpour and high tide would bring flash floods, he said in comments carried by NST.
“With continuous heavy rain and high tide levels, flash floods will occur. We advise everyone to be on alert,” he said, adding that slopes are particularly vulnerable after prolonged rain because the soil loosens. Agencies including the Penang Island City Council and the Public Works Department would remain on alert, he said.
The advisory follows the death of a 73-year-old man in a landslide behind his house in Taman Seri Rambai, Paya Terubong, on 25 Oct.
MetMalaysia has also issued an alert-level continuous rain warning for Perlis, Kedah, Penang and Perak until 26 Oct, according to FMT, with several districts in Kedah and Perak named in the same notice.
State local government committee chairman Jason H’ng said several areas reported fallen trees after the overnight downpour, from Lorong Gangsa, Lebuh Bukit Jambul and Jalan Mayang Pasir near the Bayan Baru market to Gertak Sanggul and the Road Transport Department office in Batu Uban, The Vibes reported.
Penang Island City Council mayor Datuk A. Rajendran said 14 incidents involving fallen trees and broken branches were reported, made up of 13 fallen trees and one broken branch. Rainfall between 1am and 11am reached 117mm at the Kolam Bersih station and 97.5mm at the Kolam Air Itam station.
Heavy rain and high tides caused flooding and water accumulation at 10 locations across the island’s northeast and southwest districts. In the northeast, water reached about 50cm at Lintang P. Ramlee, Jalan P. Ramlee, Jalan Kampung Relau, Jalan Patani, Lilitan Stadium, Kampung Masjid Hashim Yahya and Lorong Kulit, caused by prolonged rain, high tide and the overflowing of Sungai Pinang.
In the southwest, low-lying terrain left about 30cm of water at Kampung Sulup, Kampung Masjid and Kampung Paya. Drainage systems in the affected areas are being cleared, while the long-term fix rests on the Drainage and Irrigation Department’s Sungai Pinang flood mitigation project.
Motorists have been advised to take care on hilly roads, where fallen trees, slippery surfaces and unstable slopes remain a hazard while the rain persists.
