Clean up in Penang begins following Friday's heavy downpour

MPPP workers washing Jalan P. Ramlee of mud

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) workers started early on Saturday, cleaning up areas hit hard by the previous night's heavy rain and resulting flash floods.

State Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the rainfall accumulated from Friday’s storm was one of the highest in the past 20 years, a record of 110mm for the whole day.

“The average recurrence interval was that of a 20-year storm, which is considered of a heavy proportion,” he said when contacted.

Residents clean the mud from their houses following Friday night's heavy rain and flash floods

State Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said that volunteers had distributed food to over 2,000 residents from the Jalan P. Ramlee and Sungai Pinang areas early Saturday morning.

“Some residents from Jalan P. Ramlee had to evacuate from their houses temporarily last night.

“The water was rising fast. But they were back early this morning,” he said.

He added that the flash floods only affected the island and that on the mainland, the situation was manageable.

Over at Taman Gottlieb near Kebun Bunga, several residents were evacuated on Friday following a landslide.

Residents were evacuated from their homes at Taman Gottlieb following a landslide.

Fire and Rescue Department personnel and policemen are still on standby at the scene for any untoward incidents.

The rain started on Friday evening with 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 among the affected areas.

The state government’s flood mitigation committee is expect to hold a press conference.

Jalan Perak was one of the areas hit by flash floods on Friday night