PUTRAJAYA: As eight states nationwide gradually recover from floods, the Fire and Rescue Department remains vigilant for the upcoming monsoon surge episodes.
Department director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad (pic) said their operations are initially planned for mid-December, citing past incidents like the Batang Kali landslide in 2022, which also occurred around that time.
"Somehow, it came earlier this year. The water also rose faster than expected in areas like Rantau Panjang, Kelantan," he told reporters after the department's monthly assembly on Monday (Dec 2).
Nor Hisham said their officers on the ground are continuously on standby for any situation.
He added that the department is also assisting in transporting school students affected by floods to designated hostels, with 502 students having been transported in Kelantan.
"The department also assisted in transporting 22 teachers to collect examination papers from vaults," he said.
"We did not lay this out in our initial plans, but we were able to do so. I believe all parties are doing their best to help flood victims in any way possible," he added.
As of 4pm on Monday, the number of evacuees dropped to 119,254 across Kelantan, Terengganu, Pahang, Johor, Perak, Melaka, Negri Sembilan, and Perlis.
Some 507 temporary relief centres are currently active, with five deaths recorded so far.
