GEORGE TOWN, MALAYSIA: Flash floods hit various parts of the state while roads from the city centre to Teluk Bahang and Balik Pulau have been cut off due to landslides and fallen trees.

Intermittent moderate to heavy rain caused the floods and landslides yesterday.

Among the places flooded were Bayan Baru, Bukit Mertajam, Taman Siakap in Seberang Jaya and parts of the city centre.

The worst-hit areas included Taman Siakap where the floodwaters rose to about 0.6m in some places, and Jalan P. Ramlee where the water level rose to more than 0.3m after Sungai Pinang burst its banks. Jalan P. Ramlee was impassable to traffic from about 6.30pm.

Other places that were flooded included Kimberley Street, Transfer Road, New Lane, Jalan Tun Dr Awang, Taman Sungai Ara, Jalan Mahsuri and Jalan Tengah.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's political secretary Ng Wei Aik said an order was issued at 9.50pm for residents of Jalan P. Ramlee to be evacuated to SK Francis Light in Jalan Perak and Sekolah Zainal Abidin in Jalan Masjid Negeri.

He expects several hundred residents in the area will be evacuated.

Police said two landslides were reported along Jalan Tun Sardon, which links Paya Terubong and Balik Pulau, causing the road to be closed for about four hours from 5.30pm until the landslides were cleared at 9.30pm.

The road from Teluk Kumbar to Balik Pulau was also closed to traffic from about 8pm due to a fallen tree and a minor landslide.

A tree fell along the Batu Ferringhi-Teluk Bahang road at about 7.30pm, causing the link to be cut off for 90 minutes before the tree was removed.

There was also a landslide on the Tanjung Bungah-Batu Ferringhi road, which caused a traffic snarl.

The Meteorological Services Department has said the intermittent rain, which began early yesterday morning, is expected to continue until this afternoon.

Police advise motorists to plan their journey ahead and avoid Jalan Tun Sardon and roads that are flood-prone to prevent traffic congestion.

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