Penang hit by 119 flash foods since 2013

GEORGE TOWN: Penang has been hit by 119 flash floods from 2013 to Oct 15 this year and most of the areas affected were in Barat Daya and Timur Laut districts. the State Legislative Assembly sitting was told today.
State Local Government, Traffic management and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said of the total, 22 floods occurred in 2013, 20 floods in 2014, 26 floods in 2015, 30 floods in 2016 and 21 floods in 2017.
He said this in reply to a supplementary question from Shariful Azhar Othman (BN-Bertam) who wanted to know the number of flash floods in the state from 2013 until now, plus the dates and list of areas involved.
Shariful Azhar also wanted to know about the list of areas and the number of victims involved in the Sept 15 flash floods and the real cause of the incident and ways to address it.
On Sept 15 flash floods, Chow said, 100 areas across the state were affected, involving 5,498 victims.
In Southwest, it involved 24 areas and 665 victims; Northeast (35 areas and 1,950 victims); Central Seberang Prai (15 areas and 1,854 victims); North Seberang Prai Utara (14 areas and 862 victims); and South Seberang Prai (12 areas and 167 victims.
Chow said the extraordinary rainfall distribution in one day on Sept 15 was equal to the amount that normally falls in a month, coupled with high tide on Sept 15, had caused the flash floods to be among the worst ever hit Penang in recent times.
"The impact of the typhoon Doksuri also contributed to the flash floods as some of the rivers and the existing drainage systems in residential areas and villages could not cope with the amount of water."
He said domestic, industrial and agricultural wastes dumped into rivers and monsoon drains had also caused the drainage systems to be clogged and contributed to the flash floods.
In an effort to address the flash floods, the state government through the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) would take several approaches including implementing flood mitigation projects in the flood prone areas.
"Preventive and maintenance works will also continue to ensure that the existing drainage system is in good condition. In addition, the state government will ensure property development will adhere to the Environmental Friendly Drainage guidelines for rivers and river reserves," he said. — Bernama