Flood chaos in Penang after downpour

GEORGE TOWN: Traffic came to a standstill when flash floods hit various parts of Penang following hours of continuous rain.

Water level rose to knee-high in certain roads after the downpour which started on Friday evening.

Road Transport Department (JPJ) director-general Datuk Seri Ismail Ahmad, who was late for a function, said that he landed at the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas at 7.20pm on Friday, but took more than two hours to arrive at the venue in Burmah Road. 

Motorists were caught in traffic snarls for two to three hours.

Among the places that were flooded were Jalan Masjid Negri, Jalan Mount Erskine, Jalan Transfer, Jalan Gurdwara, Jalan Scotland, Jalan Air Itam, Jalan Datuk Keramat, Jalan Anson, Jalan P. Ramlee, Jalan Terengganu, Jalan Makloom, Jalan Hospital and Jalan Macallum, and the Pulau Tikus, Taman Hye Keat, Taman Lumba Kuda and Batu Uban areas.

State Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said cumulative rainfall at three stations in Bukit Bendera, Batu Lanchang and Sungai Pinang was between 51.5mm and 72.5mm.