GEORGE TOWN: Penang's existing drainage system was unable to cope with the intense rainfall over a 15-hour period, which eventually led to floods which crippled parts of the state.
State Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said that its drainage systems were incapable of containing rising waters from flowing onto the roads.
He said the state also recorded its highest ever rainfall, with a 372mm intensity at the Pajak Song station. This, he said, was even higher than that previously recorded at the Air Itam dam in September.
"This was an extraordinary rainfall which coupled with the high tide of 2.7-metres beginning 1pm. Given these conditions, I admit that our drainage systems were unable to contain the water,"he told a press conference today.
Chow said 113 areas were inundated due to the heavy rain which began last night.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who was also at the press conference, believes Penang was partially hit by Typhoon Damrey, which had struck Vietnam hours before.