Thunderstorms, unusual rainfall expected in Kedah till end-Nov

ALOR STAR – Thunderstorms and heavy rainfall in line with the current monsoon season has threatened to disrupt the daily lives of the people here, following several instances of floods across Kedah.

The state Civil Defence Force today opened two new flood relief centres at SK Malau in Kubang Pasu and SK Kg Tradisi Lembah Keriang in Bukit Kayu Hitam, following heavy rainfall since yesterday afternoon.

Villagers and travellers to the state recreational parks found themselves stranded when the heavy downpour caused earth on the hillslopes to collapse followed by an avalanche of muddy water to gush down the hills during the heavy downpour.

However, the authorities said no casualties or untoward incidents were reported during the floods over the past several days in Kedah.

Kedah Fire and Rescue Department operations division assistant director Mohamadul Ehsan Mohd Zain today said they have identified 18 hilltop locations in the state as risky during heavy downpour.

Among the locations that were identified include the Titi Hayun resort area in Yan; the waterfall area in Junjung in Kulim; the Tupah recreational park in Merbok; Batu Hampar waterfall in Yan; Temurun waterfall in Jalan Datai; Lubuk Semilang recreational forest in Langkawi; Puncak Janing recreational forest in Kuala Nerang; Telaga Tujuh waterfall in Langkawi, Sg Kuala Sedim in Kulim; Ulu Paip waterfall in Kulim; Bukit Hijau waterfall and Lata Bayu waterfall in Baling; Lata Mengkuang waterfall, Tasik Beris in Sik; Sg Kulim, Kelak Kelak Iboi and Sg Ketil in Baling; Sg Empangan Pedu in Kuala Nerang; and Bukit Wang in Jitra.

Ehsan advised the public not to visit the above areas, especially the river areas this month as the Meteorology Department has forecast bad weather until the end of the month with more frequent flash floods and heavy rain expected during the period.

He added that the rescue team managed to save 20 victims and two others who were trapped at a resort in Bukit Wang last night.

A total of six people died on August 18, when the gushing waters from Gunung Jerai in Gurun and Titi Hayun in Yan caused massive floods which drowned and trapped the victims under a stack of fallen trees. – The Vibes, November 10, 2021