The 43 people stranded on Penang Hill since Saturday, due to flooding and landslides, have all been evacuated.

Accroding to Bernama, 31 of the victims were airlifted by a Penang Fire and Rescue Department helicopter to the Federal Reserve Unit in Rifle Range at 2.40pm, while the rest made their own way down by 4.30pm.

Earlier, Bukit Bendera lawmaker Zairil Khir Johari had revealed airlifting was being considered as the road leading to the top of the hill was inaccessible.

"They (stranded persons) cannot come down from the hill as the jeep pathways have been blocked by fallen trees, while the funicular train service has been interrupted as well.

"But they are not alone. There are others with them, including hotel workers,” he told Malaysiakini.

Northeast District police chief Anuar Omar (photo) subsequently confirmed that the 43 persons, including 10 senior citizens, two foreigners and children, would be airlifted by helicopters.

He said the helicopters from Subang Jaya left at 1.30pm.

"We failed to bring them down by road.

"They are currently being taken care of at Hotel Bellview. We hope the mission to bring them down by helicopters will be successful," said Anuar at a press conference in George Town.

Zairil said a rescue team, comprising more than 60 personnel from Penang Hill Corporation (PHC), the Fire and Rescue Department, police, St John's Ambulance, staff and volunteers of Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng's office was dispatched to the scene.

"The team is taking food, water and medical supplies up and the relevant authorities will decide later on how to rescue them, since the journey by foot is blocked, and is still being cleared up by the local council," he added.

Thirty six of those stranded were members of a fitness club who had gone up to Bukit Bendera for a religious ceremony, Anuar told Bernama.

"These families sought refuge at the Bukit Bendera police station when they ran out of food and also electricity supply to their homes was lost," he said.

PHC general manager Cheok Lay Leng had earlier told the Malay Mail Online that group initially refused to come down before water and electricity supplies were lost.

“When the train service was stopped on Sunday due to the landslides, we have asked if they wanted to come down, but they didn’t want to as there was still electricity and water there,” he said.

However, some of them wanted to leave after electricity and water were cut off late Sunday or yesterday.

“We have talked to them and only 17 wanted to leave while the others want to remain up there,” Cheok said.