Komtar evacuated due to flooding
Several floors in Komtar, the Penang state government's administrative centre, were flooded today, leading to the evacuation of the building for safety reasons.
PDC Setia Urus chief executive officer Ang Choo Hong said workers were carrying maintenance in a pump room on the 61st floor.
"Workers working in the plant room at level 61, accidentally opened a strainer without shutting off the water supply first, causing water to gush out of the pipe and flow downstairs...
Several floors in Komtar, the Penang state government's administrative centre, were flooded today, leading to the evacuation of the building for safety reasons.
PDC Setia Urus chief executive officer Ang Choo Hong said workers were carrying maintenance in a pump room on the 61st floor.
"Workers working in the plant room at level 61, accidentally opened a strainer without shutting off the water supply first, causing water to gush out of the pipe and flow downstairs," said a statement from PDC Setia Urus.
"Realising the trouble the water supply was shut off immediately. Nonetheless, the large amount of water kept triggering down to lower floors.
"As a precaution to prevent further damage caused by water, all high-zone lifts (blue lifts) were shut down. The mid-zone and lower zone lifts could still function as the water did not reach this level," the statement added.
PDC Setia Urus is Komtar's property manager.
A source at the scene said: "There is water cascading down the blue lift shafts. Level 53 is flooded. I heard other floors as well. I think there is some water tank problem. It is not raining.
"There is water falling through the ceiling now. Blue lifts are all closed and people are stuck.
"Staff are walking down to levels 42 and 26, where they can access the green and yellow lifts."
The 53rd floor is where the state executive councillors' offices are housed.
When contacted, Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy said a pipe burst in one of the floors was affecting the lifts.
"I had to climb 10 floors from 42 to 52. There could be an evacuation, we are waiting for instructions.
"Lifts might not be safe to use for a while. The state executive council meeting might be interrupted," Ramasamy said.
A press conference held by state executive councillor in charge of environment, welfare and caring society, Phee Boon Poh, on "Meatless Day" had to shift from the 53rd floor to the third floor due to the flooding.
PDC Setia Urus has issued a statement that by 2pm the situation in Komtar is mostly cleared up and business is back to normal.
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