Johoreans bracing for deluge

JOHOR BARU: As the monsoon rain currently affecting Terengganu and Kelantan shifts towards Johor, residents in the state are getting ready to face the deluge.

Living in a flood prone area has given father of three Azmi Adan the much needed experience in facing the natural disaster as he builds a platform to keep his electrical items on higher ground.

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The 47-year-old, who works as an ehailing driver, said his family had been living at Kampung Pasir near Tampoi where flood was an annual occurrence.

“During the monsoon, whenever it rains heavily for more than three hours, my house will be flooded.

“We have been living here for more than 10 years. In fact, my in-laws used to stay with us but they moved out as they could no longer endure the yearly floods,” he said when met yesterday.

Azmi said he had built a platform inside the house to keep electrical items such as refrigerator and furniture from getting damaged by floodwaters.

ALSO READ: MetMalaysia: Two days' continuous rain warning in Terengganu, Pahang, Johor, Kelantan

“I have also prepared bags of clothes as well as kept all important documents inside a plastic bag during the monsoon season.

“We have to adapt. The safety of my family is the most important,” he said, adding that about two years ago, floodwaters that hit the village reached waist high.

Village chief Zaini Sinong said there were eight villages with a total of 1,188 houses in Kampung Pasir, situated along Sungai Skudai.

“If heavy rainfalls coincides with high tide, then Kampung Pasir will be the first to be flooded, followed by other nearby villages such as Kampung Seri Serdang and Kampung Pengkalan Rinting.

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“There is a water pump located near a water gate in the village. We have four volunteers on standby to operate the water pump in case the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) cannot get their workers on time to switch it on,” he said.

Zaini said the authorities had gazetted SK Pengkalan Rinting as a temporary relief centre for the villagers.

When contacted, state Fire and Rescue Department acting director Mohd Rizal Buang said his personnel were on high alert following the landslide in Batang Kali and floods hitting east coast states.

“Only 20% out of our 1,501 officers and personnel can take leave but they must be prepared to be recalled for duty at any time.

“We are ready and all our assets have been inspected and working properly to carry out rescue operations during the monsoon season,” he said.

Mohd Rizal reminded the public, especially those living in flood prone areas, to always be prepared and immediately leave their houses once floodwaters rise.

“They must go to the nearest flood relief centre and ensure that all electrical appliances including the main power switch is turned off before leaving their home,” he added.

Mersing district officer Mohammed Shakib Ali said a total of 31 relief centres have been identified and gazetted to provide temporary shelter to the flood victims.

“As a precautionary measure, the disaster operation control centre has been opened to monitor the situation closely.

“The centre will operate from 8am to 5pm until Dec 24 while from Dec 25 onwards, it will operate for 24 hours,” he said, adding that some 24 high-risk areas had been identified in Mersing.

He said tourism activities such as island hopping and hiking had been temporarily put on hold during the monsoon season.

“We urge the public to be on alert and take note of the warnings issued by the Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) as well as the DID.

“They should also abide by the order to vacate their homes immediately,” he said, adding that the public could reach out to the Mersing disaster operation control centre at 07-799 8831 for more information.

Separately, the National Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre has issued a flood warning for several locations in Johor and Pahang.

This came following the continuous rain warning (danger level) issued by MetMalaysia and the result of a flood forecasting model simulation.

Floods is expected to occur in Mersing around Sungai Melikai and its surroundings and at Kampung Jemari, Pengkalan Batu, and its surrounding areas.

In Rompin, Pahang, Sungai Anak Endau near Setajam Pump House and its surrounding areas are expected to be affected by floods.