GEORGE TOWN (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - A 20-year-old Nepali plantation worker was crushed to death in Malaysia after an oil palm tree fell on him during a storm which also caused some low-lying areas to become flooded in various parts of Penang.
The unidentified worker was inside a hut taking shelter from the heavy rain when the incident happened at about 10am on Sunday (Sept 18). His body was spotted by a colleague.
Penang State Fire and Rescue Department spokesman Mohd Azman Hussin said they received a call about the incident at 10.25am and firemen station were deployed to the scene.
"The victim was already dead when the firemen arrived. We had to use a chainsaw to cut up the tree before removing the body at 11.45am," he said.
The rain, which started at about 4am, became heavy at 7am, especially in the George Town area.
Sungai Pinang burst its bank and caused Jalan P. Ramlee to become flooded. Residents were seen moving their belongings and vehicles to higher ground when the water-level rose to knee-high after two hours of heavy rain.
State Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow in a statement said a cumulative rainfall of between 74mm and 121mm was recorded.
"The rainfall was extraordinary, and the drainage system was partly to be blamed for the flash floods," he said, adding that it would need to be updated soon.
