GEORGE TOWN – Several areas in Kedah and Penang were adversely affected following torrential rainfall that caused landslides, flash floods and uprooted trees since 3pm today.
As at 9pm, several villagers and workers atop the Gunung Jerai Resort in Yan, Kedah, were rescued by local authorities while one worker remains missing as floodwaters struck the area.
The raging waters that poured down from various parts of Gunung Jerai, the highest peak in the state, also damaged 10 attap houses and shophouses near the resort.
Kedah Fire and Rescue operations assistant director Mohamadul Ehsan Mohd Zain, confirmed the incident at the waterfall resort.
Three individuals found injured were identified as Muhamad Muslim Shaari, 36; Muhamad Soleh Abdul Halim, 30; and, Muhammad Siraj Munir Muhamad Abdul Malek, 33.
Bernama also reported Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor as denying allegations that have gone viral on social media that the floods in several villages and residential areas in the Gunung Jerai area in Yan were caused by logging activities.
He said the floods were actually due to water surges from the waterfall areas at the foot of the mountain area.
“The first report was received about 5.30pm today. The floods were caused by continuous heavy rain in the Gunung Jerai area and water swiftly flowed down the foot of the mountain, involving Sg Kunyit, Sg Teroi and Sg Puteri Mandi.
“There are no logging activities around Gunung Jerai because the area has been gazetted as a forest reserve,” he said via WhatsApp after attending a special briefing on the disaster at the Yan District Office tonight.
He said among the affected locations were areas as the foot of the mountain and those near the rivers, namely Perigi, Teroi Bukit, Singkir, Kg Permatang Keramat, Kg Lubuk Boi, Pekan Yan Besar, Titi Teras, Kg Acheh and Kg Setoi.
Sanusi said they were still trying to verify the actual number of residents affected by the disaster and that, according to preliminary reports, a total of 60 people needed to be evacuated immediately.
He said all the affected residents would be placed at temporary relief centres at SMK Agama Yan and SK Teroi.
He said the evacuees would be divided into three categories, namely positive (for Covid-19), quarantine and normal.
On the number of victims killed or injured, he said so far, authorities have only found the body of a 60-year-old man, whose identity has yet to be ascertained.
He said that in the Gunung Jerai area, two victims have been found while one more person is missing. In the Salak Denai chalet in Yan, one more person is reported missing.
He said the operations room had been activated and can be reached at 04-702 8799.
Meanwhile in Penang, state exco member Phee Boon Poh also confirmed that flash floods have occurred in Teluk Bahang and Bayan Lepas.
Phee said no one has yet been forced to relocate but the local authorities, including the Fire and Rescue Department, People’s Volunteer corps (Rela) personnel and Civil Defence Corps responders have been placed on alert should heavy rain and winds prolong beyond midnight.
The meteorological services in Penang have predicted that the heavy rain spell will last until at least tomorrow.
It is learnt that the flash floods have possibly affected about 1,000 people in 300 households.
As such, Phee urged residents in low-lying areas to be wary of the possibility of increasing floods.
He also advised them to maintain their standard operating procedure of wearing masks, physical distancing and to try their best to maintain hygiene protocols, despite the adverse conditions. – The Vibes, August 18, 2021
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