ALOR SETAR: Stay away from waterfalls and recreation areas with high risk of water surge phenomenon during the current unpredictable weather, warns the Civil Defence Force (APM).
The alert came after two women were trapped at Lata Bayu waterfall in Asam Jawa, Baling, on Aug 31, following a heavy downpour.
Kedah APM disaster operations division chief Kapt Saifuddin Abdullah said the Lata Bayu waterfall is on the list of 39 recreation areas identified as hotspots at high risk of water surge phenomenon in the state.
“The public must be cautious when visiting recreational areas for picnics or camping, especially the Lata Bayu waterfall. It is one of the areas prone to debris flows in Baling,” he told Bernama yesterday at a press conference.
Saifuddin said Baling district has the highest number of locations at risk of water surge with 11 spots, followed by six in Yan and five in Sik.
In addition to Lata Bayu, the other high-risk areas in Baling are Kuala Kedua, Lata Bukit Hijau, Teratak Simpul, Lata Celak Iboi, Air Panas Ulu Legong, Lubuk Badak, Sungai Pam, Lata Baling, Lubuk Pedati and Lata Nering, he added.
He said some 1,100 APM personnel in the state are on standby for flash floods expected during the transitional phase of the northeast monsoon.
“A total of 357 high-risk flood areas have been identified, particularly along the Sungai Muda basin and in the districts of Kulim, Baling, Kuala Muda, Bandar Baharu, Kota Setar and Kubang Pasu,” he said.
