KUANTAN: Non-stop rain over the past 24 hours resulted in flash floods in low-lying areas in the state capital early today.
Several roads in the town centre were impassable to vehicles after floodwaters rose to about 0.5m while policemen were stationed to help alert motorists and divert traffic.
Uprooted trees and fallen branches along Jalan Semambu and Jalan Tun Ismail led to serious traffic congestions.
Among the flooded roads were Jalan Tun Ismail Satu, Jalan Beserah, Jalan Wong Ah Jang, Jalan Bukit Ubi and Jalan Haji Ahmad.
Flash floods in the town area resulted in the Kuantan wet market along Jalan Tun Ismail to be inundated with ankle-deep water.
Teruntum assemblyman Sim Chon Siang said that while the water in most areas had receded, the state government should identify a long-term solution to overcome the problem.
"The rain has stopped and most stretches which were closed in town have been reopened to all vehicles. This is the second time the town is under water this year and we need to prevent this in the future.
"The state government has to provide a proper explanation as I have raised this matter (flash floods) several times during the state assembly sitting. People are worried when they see the roads in town submerged," he said when contacted.
Sim said he believed the old drainage system which could no longer cope with the volume of water and poor maintenance could have triggered the flash floods.
On Jan 3 this year, rain which lasted more than 48 hours left the state capital paralysed with cars stalled at several submerged stretches.
It was later reported that an extraordinary amount of continuous rain above the average rainfall had led to inundated roads as the existing drains could not cope with the large amount of water from prolonged rain.