MetMalaysia: 48 areas nationwide trigger heatwave alerts

PETALING JAYA: The temperature continues to surge across the country with heatwave alerts issued for 48 areas.

This was four more than the number of areas issued alerts on Saturday.

Of the 48 areas, six areas in the peninsula had Level 2 heatwave alerts while the remaining areas were issued Level 1 alerts, according to the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia).

A Level 1 heatwave status indicates daily maximum temperatures of between 35°C and 37°C, and Level 2 is between 37°C and 40°C, for three consecutive days.

The areas with the Level 2 alerts yesterday were the entire state of Perlis, Padang Terap and Baling in Kedah, Hulu Perak in Perak, as well as Jerantut and Maran in Pahang.

Kedah and Pahang had the highest number of Level 1 alerts with eight each.

In Kedah, the areas issued the alerts were Kota Setar, Pendang, Kuala Muda, Kulim, Bandar Baharu, Sik, Pokok Sena and Kubang Pasu.

In Pahang, they were Lipis, Raub, Bentong, Rompin, Bera, Pekan, Temerloh and Kuantan.

Four parts of Perak had the same alert: Kuala Kangsar, Kinta, Perak Tengah and Batang Padang.

Seberang Perai Utara and Timur Laut in Penang were issued Level 1 alerts, as were Kuala Lumpur and Hulu Selangor in Selangor; Jelebu, Jempol and Tampin in Negri Sembilan; Alor Gajah and Jasin in Melaka, and Tangkak, Muar, Kluang and Segamat in Johor.

Kelantan had six areas issued Level 1 alerts as well: Jeli, Pasir Mas, Tanah Merah, Machang, Kuala Krai and Gua Musang.

Besut, Dungun and Kemaman in Terengganu also had Level 1 alerts.

Sabah and Sarawak were not issued any heatwave alerts.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) said 37 cases of heat-related ailments were recorded as of April 3.

Of the number, 10 involved were heatstroke, 26 were for exhaustion and one for heat-related cramps involving 27 adults, nine teenagers and one child.

Perak and Kedah had eight cases each, while Johor had five, followed by Negri Sembilan and Sabah (four each), Selangor (three), Perlis (two), while Pahang, Penang and Kelantan had one each.Two deaths from heatstroke have so far been recorded.

At press time, six dams across the peninsula recorded warning levels.

They are the Timah Tasoh dam in Perlis; the Muda, BS Padang Saga and Malut dams in Kedah; Air Hitam dam in Penang; and the Sembrong Barat dam in Johor.