GERIK: The public is advised to be careful as there are 186 areas at risk of water surge during the northeast monsoon involving waterfalls and rivers nationwide.
Sabah has the most locations with 52 spots followed by Kedah with 24 locations, said Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) director-general Datuk Seri Mohamad Hamdan Wahid.
“Precautionary measures have been carried out by several departments such as the Minerals and Geoscience Department and the Drainage and Irrigation Department as preparation to identify the locations involved.
“They have taken mitigation measures such as installing motion detectors and pre-warning systems to facilitate security personnel involved to take action,” he said during the department’s monitoring and training session on the northeast monsoon phenomenon at the Tasek Banding public jetty here yesterday.
Mohamad Hamdan said his is focusing on water surge in populated areas to save lives.
“We want to avoid an incident like the case in Titi Hayun at the foothill of Gunung Jerai, Kedah, that took several lives in the disaster.
“We have also placed an early warning system and motion detector to alert villagers,” he added as reported by Bernama.
It was reported six victims died in the water surge incident in Gunung Jerai on Aug 18 last year which destroyed several houses and tourism chalets.
