From deluge to dearth – 200,000 in Kedah hit by water cuts after floods

ALOR SETAR: Two water treatment plants in Kedah, which supply water to about 200,000 consumers, had to be shut down after the floods in Baling.

The Kulim Hi-Tech Park water treatment plant (LRA) and the one in Bukit Pinang/Sungai Petani had to be suspended due to water turbidity.

Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, in a Facebook post, said both plants were shut down at 10.50pm and 11.10pm yesterday.

“The temporary shutdowns will affect 80,000 consumers in Kulim Hi-Tech Park and 121,000 users in Pinang Tunggal/Sungai Petani.

“Syarikat Air Darul Aman (SADA) will deliver treated water via lorries and tankers to the affected areas as a result of the LRA closures,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) will build a Bailey Bridge to replace the one between Kampung Iboi and Kampung Masjid Iboi in Baling, which collapsed during the massive floods on Monday.

A Royal Army Engineers Regiment (RAJD) has been deployed to Baling to build the bridge as soon as possible, Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said in a Facebook post.The National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) and other security agencies and volunteers are also channelling aid to victims.

Nadma director-general Datuk Dr Aminuddin Hassim said a total of 205 personnel from the police force, Fire and Rescue Department, Volunteer Department, Social Welfare Department, Irrigation and Drainage Department, fire volunteers and mountain guides had been mobilised to help the victims.

Aminuddin said members of the security forces such as those from the 9th Brigade and the General Operations Force (GOF), as well as the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (Smart), Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM), and volunteer teams from Universiti Utara Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia and various NGOs are also working to help clean the affected premises.

Kedah APM director Lt Col Awang Askandar said 140 personnel had been deployed to the scene after receiving reports of headwaters causing flash floods in Kampung Iboi in Baling.

“A total of 55 APM members were involved in the search and rescue (SAR) operation for three missing victims who were later found dead,” he said.

Meanwhile, Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM) also sent 50 volunteers who brought household necessities worth RM50,000.

The Baling floods have claimed three lives so far. There were 12 villages comprising 627 residents affected by the floods.

So far, a total of 14 houses were reported damaged and needed major repairs while the number of houses with minor damage was still being determined.