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Four districts in Kedah hit by flash floods following downpour, high tide phenomenon [NSTTV]

ALOR STAR: An hour of downpour coupled with the high tide phenomenon triggered flash floods along the state's coastline, impacting four districts, with Kuala Kedah among the hardest hit.

Dozens of vehicles were stranded after the main road leading to the Kuala Kedah Passenger Ferry Terminal was inundated with 0.5m of water.

The floods also caused the Langkawi Ferry departure from the Kuala Kedah jetty at 12.30pm to be delayed, while many passengers missed the ferry as the road was submerged.

Kuala Kedah Ferryline Ventures assistant administrative officer Shuhairol Nizam Hassan, 39, said out of 225 passengers that were supposed to board the 12.30pm ferry, only a handful of them had made it.

"The stranded passengers were rescheduled to board the 2.30pm ferry after ferry services were resumed at 1pm.

M. Viminii, 22, and her friend Noor Shazliza Abd Rahman, 27, who were returning from a holiday in Langkawi said they had a scare as it was a rough trip through choppy waters.

"Upon approaching the Kuala Kedah waters, the ferry was swaying heavily, but thankfully things were under control," said Viminii, who hails from Penang.

Business operators in Kuala Kedah lamented the authorities' failure to address the issue of flooding, which they said had been plaguing the area for years.

Parking operator and car rental service provider Rosiman Kasim, 45, said today's flash flood was among the worst that had ever hit the area.

"I suffered more than RM6,000 of losses last year due to flash floods and here we are again, facing the same problem.

"Sadly, nothing is being done by the authorities to mitigate the problem and we have to endure this situation every time there is a high tide phenomenon," he said.

Restaurant owner, Safarin Hamid 36, estimated his losses at nearly RM5,000.

"The seawater rose really fast and in less than half an hour the area was inundated by 0.5m of flood waters," he said, adding that the floods receded completely around 2pm.

Meanwhile, the state Civil Defence Force disaster management and operations chief Saifuddin Abdullah said the heavy downpour about 12.30pm which lasted for an hour had caused flash floods in four districts.

"Among the affected areas are Kampung Kepala Jalan in the Kuala Muda district; Kuala Kedah in the Kota Setar district; Kuala Sungai Yan in the Yan district; Kuala Jerlun and Kuala Sanglang in the Kubang Pasu district.

"The high tide phenomenon also contributed to the flash floods as the seawater rose to almost 3m," he said in a statement.

Saifuddin said a number of vehicles and premises in Kuala Kedah were reported to have been inundated by floodwaters.

He added that as of 4pm, the weather had improved but advised residents in the affected areas to remain vigilant by avoiding being near the coastline.

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