Flash floods hit several areas in Penang following downpour

GEORGE TOWN: Hours of downpours have caused flash floods, a mudslide and fallen trees in several areas in Penang.
Water level rose to knee-high at certain areas after the downpour which started at 4.30pm today.
Flash floods occurred in several areas including Bandar Baru Air Itam, Jalan P. Ramlee, Jalan Masjid Negri and also Sungai Pinang, causing drains to overflow.
According to Civil Defence Department Northeast Division chief Maxwell Panchai, the department had also received a report that a mudslide occurred in Farlim due to the downpours.
"So far, there are no human casualities reported in the mudslide, but we will continue to conduct the operations to assist the public.
"Up until now, we are carrying out several operations in the affected areas," he told theSun when contacted.
As of 6pm, the water level in Sungai Pinang reached 2.89 metres which exceeds the dangerous level.
Meanwhile, State Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow, in a press statement, said that the water level of several rivers, including Sungai Pinang, Sungai Jelutong, Sungai Air Itam, Sungai Dondang and Sungai Air Terjun, had increased to 122cm and caused several areas to be affected by flash floods.
"Among the areas affected by the flash floods are Kampung Dodol, Kampung Makam, Jalan Singgore, Jalan P. Ramlee, Jalan Air Terjun, Jalan Makloom, Jalan Gemas, Jalan Paya Terubong, Jalan Batu Gantung, Jalan Masjid Negeri, Jalan Lumba Kuda, Jalan Thean Teik, Jalan Datuk Keramat and Jalan Terengganu.
"It is estimated about 600 residents from 300 households have been affected by the flash flood," he said, adding that all the affected areas were flash flood hotspots as they were either low-lying areas or located near rivers.