Many more were forced to cancel last-minute Hari Raya shopping to move their belongings to higher ground.

Roads leading to the south-western part of the island were closed by fallen trees and mudslides.

Flood-prone areas in Jalan P. Ramlee, Jalan Patani and those in Balik Pulau and Bayan Baru were the worst hit, with water waist-deep.

No casualty was reported, in the second flash flood this month. A similar flood occurred on Sept 6.

State Local Government Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said five operations centres on the island had been activated in anticipation of evacuations.

"We are monitoring the situation closely. Many parts of the island and mainland are submerged," he said.

Chow said fire and rescue services personnel had been despatched to help residents in Jalan P. Ramlee.

A victim there, 46-year-old widow Siti Asmah Abidin said: "I am glad the rescue boats came in time to take my three children to higher ground. I was worried when the rain didn't stop all night."

Siti Asmah said her house in Jalan P. Ramlee was also flooded earlier this month.

The road from Teluk Kumbar to Balik Pulau has been closed. So too the main road between Paya Terubong and Air Itam. A 20-metre tree fell across Jalan Tun Sardon on Monday evening.

Motor vehicles, including factory buses, were seen stalled, half-submerged in the middle of the Paya Terubong road.
Paya Terubong state assemblyman Yeoh Soo Hin said most of the residential areas in Relau were knee-deep in water.