Hundreds of houses in Penang hit by flash floods

 GEORGE TOWN: Hundreds of houses in Balik Pulau, Teluk Kumbar and Teluk Bahang were hit by flash foods following three hours of continuous heavy downpour earlier today.

Some of these areas were in metre-deep floodwaters.

Heavy rain since 12.30pm also caused some roads, especially in Pulau Betong, Balik Pulau, to be impassable to light vehicles.

A resident in Kampung Sulup, Teluk Kumbar, seen cleaning her house following the flood. - NSTP/MIKAIL ONG. - NSTP/MIKAIL ONG

Pulau Betong assemblyman Mohd Tuah Ismail said among the affected villages were Sungai Burung, Kampung Terang, Titi Teras, Taman Seri Indah and Pulau Betong, with no less than 20 houses in each area badly affected as some premises were in waist-deep waters.

"Upon being alerted about the flash floods, I immediately went to monitor the situation. So far, no one has been evacuated but the flood victims have taken immediate steps to salvage whatever items, especially electrical appliances from their homes.

Houses in Kampung Sulup, Teluk Kumbar, inundated with flood waters. - NSTP/MIKAIL ONG. - NSTP/MIKAIL ONG

"Some houses were flooded waist-deep, while some roads were submerged in knee-deep floodwaters, which is extremely dangerous to light vehicles such as motorcycles," he said today.

Tuah said, until 6pm, it was still drizzling and they were still monitoring the situation on the ground and assisting flood victims in whatever way possible.

Mohd Syukri Razak, in his 50s, from Pulau Betong, said he and other family members struggled to move furniture and electrical appliances to higher ground.

Resident in Kampung Sulup, Teluk Kumbar, seen cleaning following the flood situation. - NSTP/MIKAIL ONG

He said they were worried that the flood situation would worsen.

"Knee-deep water started entering the house around 4.30pm due to non-stop heavy rain. I am lucky I got to move some of the things to the second floor.

"Until now, the floodwaters show no signs of receding. If the situation worsens, we may move to an evacuation centre for our safety," he added.

Water levels following the flood in Kampung Sulup, Teluk Kumbar. - NSTP/MIKAIL ONG.

Meanwhile, Bayan Lepas assemblyman Azrul Mahathir Aziz said dozens of houses in Teluk Kumbar were also hit by flash floods and a temporary flood relief centre has been opened at Dewan Al Barakah at Masjid Maqbul Teluk Kumbar.

"I have alerted the residents whose houses were hit by flash floods to evacuate immediately if the waters do not recede," he said, adding that the disaster affected around 300 families.

One resident, Ramli Ahmad, 44, said water started to enter his house, and he was in waist-deep flood waters within a short time.

A resident in Kampung Sulup, Teluk Kumbar, seen cleaning his porch following the flood. - NSTP/MIKAIL ONG

"The water from the nearby river overflowed and there was hardly any time to do anything. We did not manage to salvage anything. Most of the things are damaged," he said when met while cleaning his house this evening.

Another resident, who only wanted to be known as Mat, 77, said within 30 minutes, his house had been submerged in floodwaters.

A resident in Kampung Sulup, Teluk Kumbar, checks on the flood situation. - NSTP/MIKAIL ONG

Several houses in Kampung Sulup, Teluk Kumbar, inundated with flood water. - NSTP/MIKAIL ONG. - NSTP/MIKAIL ONG