Floods: Roads Cut Off, Unexpected Situations Among Challenges Of Firefighters

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 2 (Bernama) -- The situation of no road access in most flood locations is one of the main challenges faced by members of the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), said its director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad.

Speaking after the JBPM headquarters monthly assembly here today, he said that, however, has not dampened the spirits of more than 800 firemen on duty daily for flood relief missions in the nine affected states.

"Flooded roads in most places naturally interfere with the movement of firefighters. Secondly, we see that some areas in Rantau Panjang, Pasir Mas and Besut have never experienced floods like this before.

"So, the residents there were quite confident at the early stage that the water level would not rise, but it rose suddenly and since we had to carry out operations at night, it can be quite difficult for us," he said when asked about the challenges they faced during this flood season.

Taking lessons from past experience for the safety and health of personnel, he said that fire stations involved in flood areas have been supplied with more user-friendly personal protective equipment (PPE).

"It has a quick-release mechanism, making it easier in terms of response when trapped and easy to release," he said.

In terms of personnel assignments, he said that from Nov 5 till yesterday, a total of 7,632 personnel had been mobilised to deal with floods and the Northeast Monsoon (MTL) phenomenon, with readiness in terms of assets, namely 450 marine vehicles and 350 transport vehicles such as vans, four-wheel drive and trucks.

The number of flood victims in seven of the nine affected states also dropped, with 112,455 evacuees still housed at temporary relief centres as of 4 pm this afternoon compared to 138,052 this morning.

The death toll from the flood has risen to seven after a man, who was reported missing when his motorcycle was swept away by currents, was found drowned in an oil palm plantation at Felda Kerteh 3, Dungun, Terengganu today.

Earlier, Nor Hisham also witnessed the document signing and handing over of assignment details for the newly appointed State Fire Director, involving a total of nine senior officers of JBPM who have been promoted or involved in the work rotation.

-- BERNAMA