ALOR STAR: Continuous downpour since last night, combined with high tide phenomenon, caused flash floods in several low-lying areas in Kedah.
However, as at 2pm today, no evacuation centre was opened in the state.
Several main streets in the state were inundated by 0.5m of floodwaters, including Jalan Kuala Kedah, Jalan Yan–Ruat, Jalan Singkir Darat and Singkir Laut.
The floods were also triggered by a 2.6m high tide.
State Civil Defence Force’s Disaster Management Committee coordinator Captain Saifuddin Abdullah, in a statement today, said the affected areas in Alor Star were Kampung Telok Amboi, Kang Keda Tukang Jusoh, Kampung Batu 5, Kampung Bujang, Kampung Paya Suri, Kampung Thye Eng and Kampung Permatang Batu Lintang.
In Yan, the areas affected were Kampung Singkir Darat, Kampung Singkir Genting, Kampung Ruat, Kampung Singkir Laut and Kampung Tanjung Jaga.
“Several schools were hit by flash floods, including Sekolah Kebangsaan Singkir, Sekolah Kebangsaan Sri Aman and Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bedong,” said Saifuddin.
“Besides heavy rain, the flash floods were also caused by an inadequate drainage system, which could not contain the large volumes of water,”
He said the department was monitoring the floods in the state.
Jalan Raja Fire and Rescue Department chief Mohd Firdaus Isa said continuous downpour caused the Sungai Kedah riverbank in Tanjung Chali here to be inundated.
Checks showed that the riverbank was submerged 0.5m in floodwaters. The situation was expected to worsen if the rainfall continued.
Firdaus said Fire and Rescue Department personnel were on standby and that police had cordoned off the area for public safety.
"We evacuated a 90-year-old woman from her house in the area.”