Penang braces for more floods as rain continues to pour

BALIK PULAU: Penang is bracing for more floods as rain continues to pour across the state, and floods have forced 30 people to two evacuation centres.
At about 11am, the state recorded 79.5mm of rainfall, above the 70mm threshold triggering warning of floods.
Teluk Bahang assemblyman Datuk Shah Headan Ayoob Hussain Shah said that based on data collected by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage, Department of Civil Defence and Fire and Rescue Department, heavy rainfall, high tide and outdated drainage system at Sungai Kelian were the cause of floods here.
"We had asked the state government to upgrade the drainage system in 2013, but till now no upgrade has been down. I believe that with an upgrade, the floods could have been avoided," he told reporters at the Teluk Bahang City Council hall.
Shah Headan called on the relevant authorities, such as the Meteorological Department, police and Penang Water Corporation, to work together and share information for the sake of the people.
People who were cleaning their houses following the floods yesterday expressed fear of recurring floods as the rain has not stopped since last night.
Rozana Said, 50, and her husband Abdul Khalid Mohamad Hanifa, 52, said they had never experienced such severe floods here over the past 20 years.
"This time it is really bad. Usually, the floodwaters rise up to the knees but this time it has reached the waist," Rozana said.
Three villages in Teluk Kumbar — Kampung Paya, Kampung Sulup and Kampung Nelayan — have been affected by the floods.
Two flood evacuation centres have been opened, one in Teluk Bahang and the other in Teluk Kumbar, and 30 people have been moved there. — Bernama