Do not have ‘swim fests’ in floodwaters, warns Johor Bomba

SEGAMAT: The public is reminded not to turn the flood situation into a “festival” by ignoring safety aspects as it could put their lives at risk.

Johor Fire and Rescue Department Zone 4 head Rasidi Md Yunos said this was because the water levels in flooded areas rise rapidly, especially near rivers, beaches, mines and lakes.

“Some people turn it into a fest without any apprehension by making TikTok videos on social media. This is very risky because safety is neglected.

“This includes not wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) and safety jackets as well as letting their young children play in the water. This kind of thing should not happen,” he told reporters at the Segamat Fire and Rescue Station here.

He also advised residents not to risk braving floodwaters because the depth of water and strength of currents are unpredictable and were dangerous.

“People need to be aware and appreciate their lives because when there is a flood, we do not know what lies underneath and the depth may be one metre or even more than 10m.

“My advice to the community is to cooperate and follow orders of authorities to prevent untoward incidents,” he said.

Rasidi added that although residents of affected areas could be accustomed to floods, they still had to be vigilant.

Five rivers in the state have exceeded the danger level, namely Sungai Muar in Kampung Awat which is 21.58m, followed by Sungai Muar in Buloh Kasap (11.13m), Sungai Segamat in Bandar Segamat (9.91m), Sungai Lenik in Ladang Chaah (6.69m), both in Segamat, and Sungai Kesang in Kampung Seri Maamor, Tangkak (4.26m). – Bernama