BUKIT MERTAJAM: Heavy rain lasting more than six hours in Seberang Perai Tengah on Monday triggered flooding which inundated homes and roads, and forced the evacuation of almost 200 people.
As of 6am today, 195 people from 46 families are taking shelter at four flood relief centres in the district.
State Welfare, Caring Society, and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said the victims were evacuated to the shelters beginning 7pm yesterday.
Up to 96 people are currently housed at Surau Kampung Permatang Tok Suboh; 11 evacuees – including a newborn – from Kampung Permatang Rawa are taking shelter at Dewan Perda Timur; 22 victims have found refuge at Dewan Orang Ramai Bukit Teh; and 66 people are currently situated at Surau Kampung Pisang.
The victims’ homes were inundated by between 0.3 and 0.74 metre of water, Bernama reported.
Phee added that the government is closely monitoring the situation.
Meanwhile, five major roads in the district were closed to all traffic on Monday after they were submerged in 0.1 to 0.45 metre of water.
According to Seberang Perai Tengah police chief Assistant Commissioner Nik Ros Azhan Nik Abdul Hamid, the roads are Jalan Tembikai, Jalan Kulim, Jalan Kebun Sireh, Jalan Permatang Tok Subuh and Jalan Perindustrian Bukit Minyak.