GEORGE TOWN: The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) will continue keeping a close watch of all hillslopes on the island to prevent from any untoward incident in light of the current unpredictable weather.
Several parts on the northern coast of Penang island, such as Tanjung Tokong, Tanjung Bungah and Batu Ferringhi, were hit by flash floods yesterday following extraordinary rainfall of 150mm in just two hours.
Over at Pearl Hill in Tanjung Bungah, a minor landslip was reported while a giant boulder, measuring about four tonnes, rolled down from the slope there.
Also at Tanjung Bungah, waterfall-like water, the colour of 'teh tarik', came gushing down from a hillslope behind a row of hillside luxury houses.
The site was also where three newly-built luxury houses were destroyed after heavy downpour had triggered a landslide and sink-hole, causing the whole double-lane road in front of the premises, to collapse back in November 2017, where Penang witnessed one of her worst floodings.
Another waterfall-like water, also the colour of 'teh tarik', came gushing down from a hillslope in the forested area behind the Leader Garden Condominium.
MBPP Mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang said they had been watching the hillslopes closely and would continue doing so after yesterday's incidents.
"We (MBPP) have been constantly monitoring the hillslopes (for imminent danger of landslides) along with the engineering team from the Public Works Department.
"So far, we have identified several hotspot areas, such as Tun Sardon, on the way to Balik Pulau, and along the Jalan Batu Ferringhi stretch for us to focus on," he said when taking the New Straits Times team to Pearl Hill and Tanjung Bungah this morning to show the effects of yesterday's heavy downpour which triggered the flash floods.
On the 'teh tarik' water gushing from the hillslopes, Yew explained that it was a result of natural landslide in the forest reserve near the Penang Water Supply Corporation's water catchment area, which brought with it muddy and murky water.
"Due to the extraordinary rainfall yesterday, this caused the drainage system to block, which pushed the excessive water out from the hillslopes and overflowed into nearby roads before entering into Sungai Kelian.
"This is due to natural occurrence and not man-made disturbance, and we are working with the state water authority to tackle this issue.
"Since yesterday, we have been working with the Public Works Department to carry out remedial works. As part of the land are privately-owned, we will need the consent of the land owner before we can proceed with works," he added.
It was reported that a family of five, including two children, from Kampung Din Bamboo in Batu Ferringhi near here were trapped inside their home following flash floods yesterday morning.
They were rescued in the nick of time by firefighters. Their home had been inundated by one-metre deep waters.
Penang Fire and Rescue Department director Saadon Mokhtar said the downpour did not result in any serious landslides.