Weather forecast puts a damper on Terengganu folk’s joy

KUALA TERENGGANU: Many in Terengganu were relieved that Monday’s supermoon did not cause tidal waves, floods or significant rise in sea levels here. However, their joy may be short-lived.

Three more instances of high tides along with heavy rains are expected from mid-December.

The forecast during the period includes daily thunderstorms that may cause rivers to swell, said Terengganu Civil Defence Depart­ment director Lt Kol Che Adam A. Rahman.

“Floods are expected if there is continuous rainfall of more than 100mm a day,” he said.

However, the showers were not expected to be as heavy as those in 2014, which caused massive floods and mass evacuations, he added.

The state’s disaster management committee had spent the last month preparing for the floods.

Rescue drills involving all relevant agencies included flood evacuation operations.

The Department of Irrigation and Drainage would monitor water levels at 38 stations and instal early warning sirens at 23 locations, said Che Adam.

Web cameras to monitor floods at eight locations, he added, had been installed in five districts.

Che Adam also assured the public that the department and other agencies were prepared with adequate assets and personnel.