PETALING JAYA: Kedah and Selangor have the highest number of areas that are at risk of being hit by a water surge.
Of the 73 dangerous locations nationwide, Kedah has 20 high-risk areas followed by Selangor with 17, said the Fire and Rescue Department.
Its Fire and Rescue Operations Division director Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad said Terengganu had nine such locations, followed by Perak and Johor with six each, Kelantan (five), Pahang (four), Sabah and Sarawak (two), Perlis and Negri Sembilan (one each).
“Some of the high-risk areas are in Baling, Yan and Bukit Wang in Kedah; the Gunung Strong and Lata Golok waterfalls in Kelantan; and the Sekayu and Chemerong waterfalls, and Lata Payung in Terengganu.
“The basis for recognising these areas is simple. If the picnic area near rapids, whether sloping or rocky rapids, the water surge will come from upstream.
“Water surges also occur in slope areas, such as in Baling recently. It also depends on existing obstacles to the water movement and the amount of water discharge,” he said.Nor Hisham added that people who wished to visit these locations for recreational activities should know at least the basics of swimming and floating.
They should also be mindful of the weather and stay away from the body of water if it rains.
“Watch out for the signs of a water surge, like the increase in debris or sand in water, and always be vigilant,” he said.
Other early signs include a sudden increase in the current strength or the water turning cloudy and frothy.
Malaysia has been hit with numerous water surge incidents recently, causing many deaths and the destruction of property.
Last Friday, 32 people, including 13 children, were trapped in a water surge incident at Lata Ulu Kasar, Sungai Tong in Setiu, Terengganu.
Two cars that were parked near the river were damaged, with one washed 2km away.
Late last year, Yan and Baling were hit by one of the worst water surge incidents in the country, killing several people.
Hundreds of locals were also affected by the resultant mudflows.
