Amirudin said preparations are usually carried out in November and December in anticipation of a certain amount of rainfall.

However, the amount of rainfall recorded from Dec 16 to 17 exceeded projections, he said, adding that it was the first time the state had recorded such an amount.

Amirudin said the amount of rainfall – which was reportedly six times the usual amount – left him stunned.

“We were caught by surprise by the amount of rainfall. So, it wasn’t a matter of being unprepared. All that was supposed to take place in a month (the amount of rainfall), happened in a day,” he said at a press conference.

On Dec 18, Amirudin said he mobilised the disaster relief machinery statewide to evacuate residents on the assumption that “we would be experiencing an extraordinary amount of rainfall”.

“At night, we looked at the reports that were coming in and the number (of flood victims) was overwhelming.

“It was then (that) I called the prime minister and pleaded for federal support.”

Amirudin went on to say that in terms of infrastructure, the state could manage rainfall of between 60mm and 70mm.

To compound matters, there was the high-tide phenomenon, which saw water levels rise 4.5m, he added.

Incessant rain since Friday displaced over 4,000 families and claimed 17 lives in the state so far.