GEORGE TOWN: Major flash flooding and landslides here have prevented hundreds of students from reaching their schools and sitting for the first day of the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examinations.
Many students were trapped in their homes, while others were seen being transported to schools via boat courtesy of the Fire and Rescue department.
Flash floods are once again causing havoc across the island.
Massive traffic gridlock has been reported in various parts of the city, with waters inundating Jalan P. Ramlee up to waist level – the fourth time the major artery has experienced significant flooding since Oct 29.
A Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said they received a distress call at 4.22am about a landslide at Jalan Ujung Batu in Teluk Bahang here.
He said five firemen from the Teluk Bahang fire and rescue station were sent to the scene of the incident.
"The firemen said (a portion of) the road along the hillslope has collapsed, and that a (large) tree has fallen across another stretch of it, covering some 50 square feet.
"Police have closed the road to the public and are diverting traffic," he told reporters here today.
He added that one person was injured in the landslide after being hit by a falling stone.