SUNGAI PETANI: The floods in several parts of Kedah were caused by an unusually heavy rainfall.
However, flood mitigation projects at the main rivers in the state have helped to keep the number of evacuees low when compared to statistics from previous years, even though records show that the amount of rainfall over the past several days had exceeded the average monthly rainfall.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah said the unusual rainfall had caused water levels at the main rivers to rise dramatically.
However, he said, thanks to the hefty investment by the federal government in flood mitigation projects, there had been a reduced impact to those living in low-lying areas.
Bashah said the number of flood evacuees in the state could have been much higher if not for the federal government initiative in approving an allocation of over RM1 billion to carry out flood mitigation projects in the state over the past years.
He said, even though Kuala Muda was the worst affected district in the state with some 500 evacuees, the number was marginal.
“I remember that the number of flood evacuees in Kuala Muda district used to be way bigger but things have improved a lot following the full completion of a massive Sungai Muda Flood Mitigation project costing RM1.4 billion two years ago.
“This district used to be severely affected as the whole Pantai Merdeka up to Kota Kuala Muda would be easily flooded during continuous heavy downpour, but the number has significantly reduced.
“Except for several low-lying areas like Bukit Meriam, which is located on just such an area near a swamp, many other areas are no longer affected by floods,” he said after visiting Pantai Merdeka flood evacuees at a relief centre at SK Bukit Kecil.
It was the second flood disaster for the victims in a span of two weeks.
Bashah said all the government departments and agencies involved in flood management had been ordered to continue monitoring the situation.
“The overall situation in the state is under control but we have ordered all the departments and agencies concerned to continue monitoring the situation as water flowing down from rivers to the sea might cause more flood.
“It is compounded by the high-tide phenomenon which is expected to last for at least another two to three days,” he said.
Bashah said the RM641 million Sungai Kedah-Anak Bukit flood mitigation project is expected to reduce flood risk in Kuala Kedah area upon its completion soon.
He commended all the government departments and agencies, assemblymen and others for their hard work in ensuring that the flood evacuees are well taken care of.
Kuala Muda District Officer Md Nordin Yahya said based on Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) records, the rainfall in the district over the past several days was unusually high.
He said the average monthly rainfall recorded in the district was about 200mm but the downpour over the past several days was recorded at over 200mm per day.
“The same amount of unusual rainfall was recorded here when the affected areas were flooded last week,” he said.
Nordin said the weather was improving and two flood relief centres in the district — SK Bukit Kechil and Dewan Kampung Jilid 8 — were closed today.
Three other flood relief centres in the state — one in Kota Setar district ad two in Kubang Pasu district — were also closed earlier in the morning.
However, the number of flood evacuees soared to 1,781 people as of 5pm.
Kedah Civil Defence Force Disaster Management Committee coordinator Saifuddin Abdullah said 13 flood relief centres were still operating and the authorities were bracing for more evacuations following a forecast of heavy downpour later this evening.