
Penang flash flood trigger Bomba response as foothill rains flood four homes in Balik Pulau
Penang Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) assistant director of Operations John Sagun Francis said two fire engines with six personnel from the Balik Pulau Fire and Rescue Station were dispatched to the scene immediately after receiving an emergency call at 3.53 pm.
He said the heavy rain caused the road to be flooded to a depth of about 0.3 metres and overflowed into nearby homes.
'The flash flood was caused by heavy rain, compounded by its location at the foothill, which led to drains overflowing onto the road and subsequently entering four houses,' he said in a statement yesterday.
John said monitoring at the site showed that the situation was under control, with water levels gradually receding and that the operation ended at 6.33 pm.
Apart from Balik Pulau, many parts of Penang were also affected by heavy rain, with the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) issuing a thunderstorm, heavy rain, and strong wind warning today. — Bernama
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Free Malaysia Today
3 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Heavy rain prompts flash flood warnings across US northeast
Authorities warned of hazardous driving conditions due to the risk of flash floods. (WABC-TV/AP pic) NEW YORK : Heavy rain inundated parts of New York and New Jersey last night, while flash flood warnings were in effect across a wide swathe of the eastern seaboard, where travel was massively disrupted and some vehicles trapped. New Jersey governor Phil Murphy declared a state of emergency, urging people to stay indoors. Authorities across the region, including in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, warned of hazardous driving conditions due to the risk of flash floods. JFK, LaGuardia and Newark airports temporarily suspended departures last night, forcing the cancellation of dozens of flights. Rescue workers in Scotch Plains, New Jersey waded into gushing floodwaters armed with red flotation devices after several drivers became stranded in the sudden surge, according to footage from CBS. In New York City, video shared on social media showed muddy brown water spewing like a geyser in front of a subway station's turnstiles. Multiple subway lines were briefly suspended or running with delays, while above ground, massive traffic jams paralysed several of the city's main thoroughfares. The national weather service (NWS) urged drivers encountering flooded roads to 'turn around'. 'Most flood deaths occur in vehicles,' it said. A flood warning remained in effect until this morning for parts of New Jersey, while the slow-moving storm was expected to continue depositing heavy rain on the US Mid-Atlantic region into the middle of the week, according to the NWS. 'The greatest concentration of storms will be across the southern Mid-Atlantic/Appalachians today and shift northward with the boundary into the central Mid-Atlantic/Appalachians tomorrow,' the government forecaster said. More than 5cm of rain drenched several urban areas in less than two hours. New York's Staten Island recorded between 10cm to 15cm of rain last night, according to the city's emergency notification system. Zohran Mamdani, the Democrat running for mayor of New York City, wrote on social media that the rapid flooding emphasised the need for climate-proofing the city. 'We must upgrade our infrastructure for this new climate reality,' he wrote.


Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Malay Mail
Stay away from Tanjung Dawai beach, Kedah fire dept warns after viral video shows large waves
SUNGAI PETANI, July 14 — The Kedah Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) has advised the public, particularly those in coastal areas, to remain vigilant following reports of large waves off Tanjung Dawai beach. Kedah JBPM Operations Division assistant director Senior Fire Officer I Azhar Mohamad said water recreational activities such as swimming and fishing should be temporarily postponed. 'Avoid going to the beach, high ground near the shore or rocky areas during high tide or strong waves. 'I urge parents to monitor their children and not let them play near the beach,' he told Bernama tonight. He added that all traders and nearby residents should also be aware of the current situation and be prepared for the possibility of seawater overflow. 'Comply with all safety instructions issued by the authorities. In case of an emergency, call 999 or report to the nearest fire station,' he said. A video showing large waves in Kampung Huma, Tanjung Dawai, went viral earlier today. The video has prompted concern among netizens, as the waves were seen striking areas close to residents' homes. — Bernama


Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Malay Mail
Weather now decides which durians travel: Tough Musang King heads abroad, delicate Tupai King stays home
Malaysia's weather that swings from blazing hot to pouring rain now decide which durians are for overseas markets and which for eating locally. Erratic rainfall and heatwaves are reducing yields, damaging fruit quality, and forcing farmers to prioritise exports based on durability and shelf life. There is now more durian supply year round, but logistical hurdles still restrict exports while branding and rarity continue to inflate prices of premium varieties like Tupai King. BEKOK, July 12 — Malaysia's increasingly topsy‑turvy weather is forcing durian growers to split the 'king of fruit' into two camps: hardy varieties robust enough for export and fragile gems that must be eaten quickly at home. Erratic downpours and bursts of intense heat are shortening shelf life, bruising fruit during transit and rendering cross‑border logistics a high‑stakes gamble, Singapore's The Straits Times reported farmers in Johor and Penang sharing during a visit to their orchards during the July–August harvest. 'The weather used to be more predictable. We knew when in the year it would rain, but lately, it's raining all the time. From last year till this year, the rain hasn't stopped,' Chin Kuan Voon whose orchard is in Bekok, Johor was quoted as saying. Tough fruit for long hauls, soft flesh for local palates Chin's 20‑hectare VS Farms is betting on three sturdier cultivars – Musang King, Black Thorn and newcomer Tupai King – but only the first two are earmarked for Singapore and China. Their firmer, bittersweet flesh copes better with cold‑chain trucks and day‑long customs queues. China is one of the top durian importers from Malaysia, but changing weather patterns are limiting what varieties can be shipped out. — Bernama pic By contrast, Penang's much‑hyped Tupai King will remain a largely Malaysian indulgence this year. Penang planter Eric Yeap keeps the variety at home 'because the eight‑hour journey from Penang will affect its quality'. Smaller harvest, sharper triage Storms have already felled four of Chin's mature trees, and he expects yields to drop 40 per cent in 2025 — a squeeze likely to push prices 10–15 per cent higher. With less fruit to sell, deciding which orchard rows feed export orders has become a game of loss minimisation. Rain also washed away much of last season's profits. Chin said Musang King's thicker skin and lower moisture content let it 'survive the vagaries of climate change'. By contrast, the once‑popular D24 suffers when nights stay warm because the flesh 'is very hard. It doesn't get enough water' as Chin put it, adding that this is not the preference for Malaysian tastebuds. Bonus January crop — but can it travel? Swings between scorching days and sudden showers have triggered an off‑season flowering every January. That means a second, smaller crop — but exporting it is tricky because Chinese New Year demand forces hauliers to stack crates and rush deliveries. 'Because the weather is becoming hotter and hotter, we can harvest durians in January as well,' Chin was quoted as saying. According to The Straits Times, Singapore wholesalers expect July's concurrent Johor and Pahang peaks to knock retail prices 20–30 per cent lower, yet admit they will skip Tupai King until supply stabilises. Branding, not just flavour, fuels price gap The Penang‑born Tupai King can fetch up to RM200 a kilogramme, triple a good Musang King; but Chin refuses to convert his entire orchard. 'You can't just sell expensive durians. You need to give people variety,' he told the Singapore newspaper. Marketers hail it for 'bittersweet depth, nutty undertones and subtle fermented notes', but growers concede the premium stems from scarcity and hype as much as taste. The erratic weather may be squeezing margins for durian exporters, but for now it is also ensuring that Malaysia's most fragile, flavour‑packed durians remain a treat best enjoyed on home ground where they drop. — Bernama pic With the changing climate limiting the crop's shelf life, Malaysian farmers say their new checklist looks like this: Hardier husk, drier flesh — to survive six‑ to eight‑hour road trips and two more days on foreign racks. Old‑tree fruit only — older root systems buffer water stress better than young saplings. Triage at orchard gate — fruit that softens within 12 hours is routed straight to domestic stalls instead of the export packing house. Staggered, smaller cuttings — picking in batches reduces pile‑up at customs during unexpected rain delays. Climate may be squeezing margins, but for now it is also ensuring that Malaysia's most fragile, flavour‑packed durians remain a treat best enjoyed where they drop.