KOTA BARU: The Kelantan Fire and Rescue Department has identified 595 hotspots in the state that are at risk of flooding during the north-east monsoon season this year, says its director Zainal Madasin.He said the hotspots covered seven districts in the state identified as flood-prone areas every year.
The districts are Gua Musang, Kuala Krai, Rantau Panjang, Tumpat, Kota Baru, Tanah Merah and Jeli.
These hotspots were mostly in village areas, added Zainal.
“We will focus on these areas because they are frequently flooded and monitoring began since the middle of this month,” he said in a press conference after a monthly assembly at the department’s state headquarters in Tunjong here yesterday, reported Bernama.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) forecasted that the country would experience continuous heavy rain from mid-November leading to major floods at the end of the month.
MetMalaysia expects the weather impact to be more significant given that the northeast monsoon is active during that period, which brings the risk of continuous heavy rain and large-scale flooding.
Zainal said firemen have started monitoring the situation, especially the water level of the main rivers in each district.
He added that nearly 1,300 officers and personnel including auxiliary firemen and volunteer firemen were prepared with training for duty throughout the northeast monsoon period.
In Kuala Lumpur, a total of 96 temporary relief centres (PPS) that could accommodate over 22,000 flood victims around the federal capital and Putrajaya were ready to be activated, says Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rina Harun.
They are part of the 6,010 PPS across the country that can accommodate more than 1.6 million flood evacuees, she added.
The Social Welfare Department is focusing on protecting flood victims, providing them with food and offering them counselling and registration at the flood relief centres, she said at the launch of the PPS Simulation Training and Management Programme at Sentul Community Centre here.
Asked on the preparations if the 15th General Election is held during the flood season, its director-general Datuk Shaharuddin Abu Sohot said his department was ready to negotiate with the Election Commission regarding the management of flood relief centres as such centres were also used as polling stations.
“There is no specific plan yet, but we will negotiate if a place is needed for election matters,” he said.
The Drainage and Irrigation Department has identified 36 hotspots at risk of flooding in the capital, including the People’s Housing Project in Batu Muda, Kampung Kassipillay, Kampung Puah and Kampung Chubadak.
