Serious Penang Has Fallen! Oppies Still Want To Earn Sing Dollars And Retire In Jiuhu

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GEORGE TOWN — Penang has recorded the highest amount of rainfall ever in one day, as flash floods brought lift to a standstill in some parts of the northern Malaysian state. Penang's State Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the highest amount of rain was 270mm which was measured earlier on Friday (Sept 15) at Air Itam dam on Penang island.

"The intensity of rain for one month poured within four hours, resulting in the flood we see today. The damn is also filled up to 91.1 per cent by 12.15pm today compared to 74.6 per cent yesterday. Teluk Bahang dam received 180mm of rain today which is really high," he said at a press conference.

According to a report by the Drainage and Irrigation Department, the water levels for rivers Sungai Pinang and Sungai Air Itam, were also the highest recorded. Their water levels hit the danger level with readings of 3.2m and 7.57m, contributing to the floods.

So far, about 100 areas in five districts have been affected with the worst situation at northeast district of Penang. Most of these areas were flooded between 0.1m and 0.6m, causing massive traffic gridlock at these roads and those leading to it.

Cars could be seen stalled and submerged in flood waters along some of these roads, particularly those near the rivers. Amongst the worst-affected areas are Jalan Lumba Kuda, Jalan P Ramlee and Jalan Masjid Negeri.

A video clip of some students at a private school sitting in a classroom with knee-deep muddy water has made the rounds on social media.

The flood has also triggered several landslides on the island. Six cars were buried in an avalanche of mud at the Kayangan Puri Mutiara Apartment parking lot in Medan Fettes. Trees had also been uprooted, but no one was injured in the incident.

"We are trying to retrieve the cars with help from the Public Works Department and the Penang Island City Council. Water flowing downhill is making the task harder," said a Bagan Jermal Fire and Rescue Department spokesman.

Flood victims involving 40 people from 19 families in Teluk Kumbar in the southwest of Penang island have been evacuated to a relief centre at Dewan Perda.

Mr Chow said the high tide of between 1.8m and 2.1m on Friday morning also contributed to the flash floods.

"Some rivers and drainage systems in residential areas and villages are unable handle the heavy rainfall,” he said.

"There are also utility facilities built across the rivers and main drains that obstruct the water flow.

"We are also still dealing with domestic, industrial and farming waste discarded into the rivers and monsoon drains. This prevents the drainage system from functioning properly, especially at pump houses.”

On the mainland, all three districts were also hit by flash floods.

Mr Chow pointed out that the flash floods were due to the inter-monsoon season and all the 100 areas affected were within the 47 hotspots listed by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage for a flood mitigation project.

He said the Penang government had yet to begin flood mitigation projects in the hotspot areas with an allocation of RM300 million (S$96.3 million).

"The majority of the projects are still at the tender processing stage and the actual works are expected to begin by the fourth quarter of this year,” he said.

"But even so, it will take up to three years before it can be completed. Only then we can see the results of the flood mitigation projects.”

http://www.todayonline.com/world/asi...alarming-level


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