Nature-based solutions to deal with climate change

An aerial view taken on Nov 5, 2017, of the flash flood which submerged George Town. Flash floods are becoming a common occurrence in Penang. — CHAN BOON KAI/The Star

ONE fateful day in September 2017, thousands of Penangites were woken up by a flash flood triggered by an overnight downpour.

While flash floods were nothing new in Penang, this particular deluge was so massive that many described it as the worst in the state since 1995. Unbeknownst to them then, however, was that they would face worse floods in mere weeks and months ahead with heavier torrential rain, leading to more deaths and destruction of property.