Floods hit 50 low-lying areas in Penang

GEORGE TOWN: More than 50 low-lying areas in Penang were flooded following non-stop rain since midnight.
Among the worst hit areas were Datuk Keramat, Ladang Hong Seng, Kampung Makam, Lebuh Kimberley, Lorong Baru, Lebih Cecil, Jalan Sungai Ujong, Jalan Magazine and Lebuh Cintra in the Northeast district as well as Teluk Kumbar, Sungai Batu and Sungai Ara in the Southwest district.
Affected areas in Central Seberang Prai were low lying areas in Bukit Mertajam and also Seberang Jaya.
Other places on the mainland in North Seberang Prai were Mak Mandin, Jalan Raja Uda, Butterworth, Taman Sungai Rambai, Taman Bunga Raya and Taman Senangin while in South Seberang Prai the affected areas are Kampung Sethu, Kampung Pengkalan and Kampung Titi Rumah.
When contacted, Penang Exco for Welfare, Environment and Caring Society Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh confirmed these areas were flooded and said 26 people have been evacuated to date to flood relief centres in Central Seberang Prai and North Seberang Prai.
"One relief centre is open at Mak Mandin, currently housing 21 people from nine families and one in Kubang Semang, Penanti, with five people from one family," he said.
At Ladang Hong Seng, one flood relief centre was open at Ladang Lada JKKK Hall as a precautionary measure to receive evacuees from the surrounding area.
Ladang Hong Seng which is near the Kebun Bunga and Pulau Tikus constituency is considered the intermediate area to be hit.
Many houses in the area were flooded following the predawn rain which had caused a traffic gridlock in the morning.
Ladang Hong Seng had previously made headlines due to cracks at several homes which led to the families having to move out, due to safety concerns.
Meanwhile, motorists at Jalan Batu Ferringhi got a rude shock, when a boulder fell on the road.
Penang Island City Council Mayor Datuk Maimunah Shariff said the boulder has been removed, and the road is now open to traffic.
Just two months ago, Penang was inundated with the highest rainfall which caused massive flooding in the state.
A total of 372mm of rainfall fell during the 16 consecutive hours of Nov 4 and 5, where floodwaters rose and stayed in some places for up to a week.