GEORGE TOWN: Work to repair a burst underwater pipe in the Prai River here started at 1am on Friday (Dec 22).

Divers are carrying out the task of attaching steel plates to the 1.35m-diameter pipe, said Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

ALSO READ: Penangites told to store water as further repairs on Prai River pipe set for 8.30pm Dec 21

"Commercial divers are working to lock plates and clamps with large nuts and bolts at the bottom of the Prai River," he said in a Facebook post on Friday.

Several parts of the island and mainland have been grappling with water outages since a section of the pipe laid across the bottom of the Prai river burst on Monday (Dec 18).

There is zero visibility at the bottom of the 3.5m-deep river due to its murky and turbid waters.

ALSO READ: Repairs on burst pipe in Prai River under way after divers assess damage

The ruptured pipe has disrupted water supply to about 200,000 homes on the island and the mainland.

The pipe is one of two that channel treated water from North Seberang Prai district to Butterworth on the mainland and the south and west of the island.