IPOH, Feb. 19 -- Recent flash floods in several parts of Ipoh were caused by drainage systems unable to cope with unusually heavy rainfall, and not by rising river levels, said Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.

Saarani said the rain had been falling consistently since last Friday, with downpours occurring almost every afternoon.

"This is not flooding caused by the Perak River. The Perak River is actually low.

"The flooding happened because the rain was extremely heavy and the drainage systems could not accommodate such a large volume of water, resulting in flash floods in several locations," he told reporters during his visit to Bazaar Ramadan near Stadium Indera Mulia here.

Saarani said on the first night alone, authori...