123 Flood Hot Spots On Radar Of Negri Fire And Rescue Dept

SEREMBAN, Oct 10 (Bernama) -- The Negeri Sembilan Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) will increase monitoring of 123 hot spot locations at risk of flooding in the state, following the shift of the North-East Monsoon (MTL) which is expected to break earlier.

Its director Abdul Khair Osman said among the hot spots are Kampung Jimah Port Dickson (PD), Kampung Baru Tanah Merah Site A PD, Kampung Ulu Mambau in Seremban and Kampung Paya in Rembau which are often flooded when it rains heavily for more than 15 to 20 minutes at a time.

“We have made preparations for operational readiness and asset mobilisation in a structured manner to face the MTL phase in this state. The hot spots we identify will be given more focus, especially in terms of personnel and logistics.

bootstrap slideshow

“If it rains heavily for 15 to 20 minutes, our personnel will go out to monitor the villages in case we need to take early action,” he said after the Negeri Sembilan JBPM Monthly Assembly here today.

He said a total of 1,119 personnel with 41 boats will be mobilised to tackle any crisis as they are now 100 per cent prepared.

Yesterday, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun said the Negeri Sembilan government is already on standby mode to face the monsoon season which is predicted to start next month.

bootstrap slideshow

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was reported to have asked the public to be alert and ready to face the possibility of flooding because the MTL is expected earlier, which is the fourth week of this month, following weather changes.

Abdul Khair said that apart from floods, they will focus on falling trees during the period and this year a total of 12 per cent of the rescue work involving fallen trees was carried out with three deaths.

In the meantime, he also advised the public not to do beach activities, including in Port Dickson, during the period to avert unwanted incidents.

“We have also briefed the Voluntary Fire Brigades in this state to always be ready, even all their assets have also been checked and are in good condition, in the event of a disaster they can move in on their own first,” he said.

Meanwhile, at the other pole of natural disasters, Abdul Khair said the total losses due to fires from January to last September was RM47.6 million while the estimated value of salvaged property was RM737 million.

In addition, he said the total number of fire incidents in Negeri Sembilan for the same period was 1,397 cases.

“There were 262 cases of fires involving building structures, while there were 155 cases of fires involving vehicles. There were 556 cases of open burning including at farms, plantations, forests, bushes, weed and garbage fires,” he said.

-- BERNAMA