GEORGE TOWN, 6 Nov 2017:
Two more bodies – believed to be flood victims – were found yesterday, bringing the total number of Penang flood victims to seven.
Timur Laut district police chief ACP Anuar Omar said the two bodies were found in a house in Jalan Mata Kucing, Air Itam and in front of Stadium Bandaraya, here.
“The sixth victim identified as Tan Ah Peow, 45, was found by his neighbour at 2pm today while the seventh victim, also a man, was found by a member of the public at 2.40pm.”
Anuar said no identification papers were found on the body of a shirtless man found covered in mud.
The two bodies were sent to Penang Hospital for post mortem.
Earlier, four bodies of senior citizens were found in their homes while the body of a Bangladeshi man was found in a house destroyed by a falling tree.
The number of flood victims in five districts in Penang continues to rise with 5,845 recorded this morning, compared to 3,779 last night. They are currently sheltered at 62 evacuation centres.
Seberang Perai Utara district recorded the highest number with 3,371 – who are staying at 30 centres – followed by Seberang Perai Tengah district with 2,119 -, who are staying at 27 centres.
A police flood operations room spokesman said more areas were inundated last night following heavy rain and high tide necessitating more residents to evacuate.
The affected areas in Seberang Perai Utara are Sungai dua, Nyior Sebatang, Lahar Yooi and Desa Murni while those in Seberang Perai Tengah are Kampung Tanjung Putus and Permatang Tinggi.
Thirty-three people are sheltered at one centre in Seberang Perai Selatan district; 130, at two centres in Barat Daya district; and 192, at two centres in Timur Laut district.
Almost the whole of Penang is flooded, with several areas inundated by 0.2m to 1m of water as a result of heavy rain and strong winds since Thursday. Penang was hit by flash floods and scores of trees were uprooted in a thunderstorm which began at 2pm on Saturday and lasted until 5am yesterday morning.
– Bernama