BUTTERWORTH – People in southern Kedah and northern Seberang Prai, Penang, have been forced to reckon with two converging threats this weekend, as flash floods inundate many areas while the region sees a spike in Covid-19 cases.
Penang yesterday recorded 92 infections, its highest daily toll since March, while Kedah registered 23.
The military has been deployed in Paya Besar, Kulim, to enforce the enhanced movement control order following a rise in infections from clusters in the industrial township.
Fire and Rescue Department personnel in Bukit Mertajam under the command of operations officer Shariff Md Rais rescued a disabled person and a child in Bukit Teh and Machang Bubok, respectively, when rising floodwaters trapped them indoors.
Kedah health and local government exco Datuk Dr Mohd Hayati Othman urged frontliners and affected residents to continue abiding by standard operating procedures against the virus.
He said masks must be worn, physical distancing observed and good hygiene maintained during evacuation efforts and at flood relief centres.
He confirmed that Covid-19 screening tents at Kulim Hospital were hit by flash floods yesterday, with the floodwaters having receded by 6pm.
The incident has been blamed on poor drainage near the hospital’s car park, where the tents were set up.
In Penang, welfare exco Phee Boon Poh said 37 people were relocated last night from low-lying villages in Pengkalan Jawa, Bukit Teh and Penanti.
The areas in Bukit Mertajam that saw rising floodwaters were Jalan Berapit, Taman Guru, Taman Seri Mengjuang, Kg Tok Elong and Taman Macang Manis.
Two of the seven rivers in Prai – Sg Kreh and Sg Jarak – also saw waters rising to dangerous levels.
Phee urged everyone to abide by health and safety SOPs despite the flooding. – The Vibes, November 29, 2020
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