Flash floods and mudslides hit Penang, Malaysia by Rob McElwee
Torrential rain and thunderstorms battered the state of Penang in Malaysia last night causing widespread flash flooding that inundated homes and sending mudslides crashing down hills.
With heavy rain falling across Penang during the weekend, last night’s torrential rain quickly flooded the area due to the ground being saturated. Over 10,000 people were sent fleeing from their homes across Penang, as rivers in the area began to reach bursting point after heavy and persistent rain continued to fall. More than ten landslides were reported with scores of roads being blocked as a result.
A ridge of low pressure across the region in conjunction with the monsoon season was responsible for triggering off the heavy downpours. Further heavy rain is expected to hit the area over the next few days and is likely to cause more flood problems in places that have already seen flooding.
Forecasters warn that heavy rain over the next few days will not just be confined to the state of Penang. Parts of southern Thailand are likely to be affected too. As well as for Penang, warnings were issued for the popular tourist resorts of Phuket, Krabi, Phang Nga and Phetchabun.
Very heavy rain across Malaysia and Thailand at this time of year is not uncommon. The southwest monsoons which bring warm and humid air off the Indian Ocean between May and October often bring spells of intense rainfall that give rise to flooding.
