More affected by disasters

Johor Baru district officer Mohd Halim Hasbullah (third from left) handing over the contribution to a recipient while Kol Mat Zin (second from left) and Tebrau MP Khoo Soo Seang (fourth from left, in orange shirt) look on.

JOHOR BARU: More people were affected by disasters such as flash floods, freak storms and fires in Johor.

Johor Civil Defence Department director Kol Mat Zin Bujang said there were 247 victims statewide this year compared to only 169 people last year.

“Because of the increase, more aid was channelled from Kumpulan Wang Amanah Bantuan Bencana Negara with RM123,500 distributed so far this year while last year, RM84,500 was disbursed.”

He added that last year, the department recorded a total of 10,160 cases while 8,880 have been recorded so far this year comprising mostly sightings of snakes, flash floods, freak storms, fires, road accidents and others.

“We are on high alert now because of the monsoon season,” he said in his speech during the handing over of cash aid to 153 freak storm victims at SK Kangkar Tebrau.

The victims from Kampung Kangkar Tebrau, Kampung Bunga Ros, Kampung Seri Purnama, Kampung Ulu Pandan, Taman Bunga Ros and Taman Delima received RM500 each.

Kol Mat Zin added that the department had identified some hotspots for flash floods including Kangkar Tebrau, Cahaya Baru, Kuala Masai and Gelang Patah.

“Our Community Emergency Response Team has 50 members in Johor Baru, 207 in Pontian, 144 in Kluang and 98 in Kota Tinggi,” he said.

Earlier, one of the recipients Ismail Abu Bakar, 86, said that he was home alone when the freak storm occurred at around 3.45pm.

“It was scary as I saw zinc roofs flying in the air,” said the retiree, adding that he has stayed in the area for over 70 years.