ALOR STAR – Stormy weather and high tides up north saw eight ferry trips between Langkawi and Kuala Kedah cancelled today due to high waves.
The cancellations affected five ferries plying the route and impacted 2,013 passengers, Konsortium Ferrylines Ventures general manager Baharin Baharom told Bernama.
The eight trips were scheduled at varying times today, and could not be rerouted to the Kuala Perlis Passenger Terminal due to congestion, he added.
“We contacted the authorities in Kuala Perlis, but the terminal is already overwhelmed with passengers and vehicles. Therefore, those travelling between Langkawi and Kuala Kedah will need to wait until tomorrow,” he said.
The northern area of the peninsula has been struck by heavy rain and storms combined with high tides that threw up large waves which hit coastal areas in Penang.
Seawater overflowed into public areas in Padang Kota, Butterworth and Bayan Lepas. It flooded Medan Renong food court while causing the floor of a restaurant to collapse at the Bagan Ajam R&R area.
The public has also been advised to avoid beaches.
Since Sunday, 150 incidents of fallen trees have been reported under the Penang Island City Council’s jurisdiction and 65 under the Seberang Prai City Council.
The Meteorological Department has issued a Category 1 strong wind and rough sea warning for the northern areas until this Saturday (September 21).
It listed Penang, Kedah and Perlis, as well as western Sabah, Labuan, the northern part of the Strait of Malacca, Condore, southwest of Reef North, and Sulu as affected areas.
“Strong winds with speeds of 40 to 50kmph and waves reaching as high as 3.5m are expected in coastal areas of Perlis, Kedah, Penang, Perak, western Sabah, and Labuan until Saturday (September 21),” the department said in a statement. – September 18, 2024