BUTTERWORTH: A major pipe burst shattered the midnight silence in Kampung Sungai Lokan, unleashing a torrent of water and thick mud that engulfed nearly 20 homes.
The incident, which occurred around 12.30am, left residents scrambling in the dark as water quickly rose to knee-level, destroying household furniture, electrical appliances and personal belongings within minutes.
Local resident Zul Azhar Abdullah, 42, who has lived in the village his whole life, said the sudden surge left residents with little time to save their belongings.
"The water rushed in with such speed that we had no time to save larger items like wardrobe sets or electronics. Outside, the entire village looked like a vast ocean," he said when met today.
According to villagers, water authorities had carried out repair works on the pipeline earlier in the day.
Late that night, they heard a loud noise resembling an explosion before water gushed into the settlement.
Zahanim Zakaria, 54, said a neighbour alerted her shortly before midnight, just before the water reached her compound.
"Even though our house was built on higher ground, the sheer force of the water still breached our living room," she said.
By the time supply to the main pipe was shut off and waters began receding about 6am, victims were left facing a major cleanup operation.
Unlike typical floods caused by rain, the pipe burst left a thick layer of foul-smelling silt and mud inside the homes.
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For Mat Shamsudin Din, 70, who moved to the village only two months ago, the incident has caused significant financial losses.
"I haven't slept a wink since last night," said Shamsudin.
"We just bought new carpets and furniture after moving here temporarily due to a development project. The plywood cabinets soaked up the water and are completely ruined," he added.
Neighbours were seen helping one another, particularly elderly residents and families with young children, to safely navigate the treacherous, mud-covered paths.
Authorities arrived early in the morning to help residents clear the mud, although the cleanup is expected to take several days.
Affected villagers are urging the water supply operator and local authorities to investigate the incident and provide assistance or compensation for their losses.
Meanwhile, the Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) said water supply to several areas across Penang had been disrupted by emergency repairs to a major pipeline.
In a notice on its Facebook page, PBAPP said repair works were being carried out on a 300mm pipe connected to a main 1,350mm pipeline at Sungai Lokan, Seberang Prai Utara.
The works had caused low water pressure and complete supply disruptions in several areas on the mainland and island.
Affected locations in Seberang Prai Utara experiencing low water pressure include Penaga, Kuala Muda, Permatang Bendahari, Pulau Mertajam, Kampung Bakau Tua, Guar Kepah and Teluk Air Tawar.
Meanwhile, areas such as Guar Kepah, Maklom and Alor Merah are facing total water shut-offs.
On the island, households and businesses in both the northeast and southwest districts are heavily impacted.
Residents in Island Glades and Island Park alongside extensive zones in southwest district —spanning Bukit Jambul, Bayan Lepas, Teluk Kumbar, Sungai Batu, Batu Maung, Jalan Paya Terubong and the Penang International Airport area — are currently without water supply.
The water utility company has expressed regret over the situation and apologised to all affected consumers for the inconvenience caused.
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