Field inspection: Local residents surveying the flood situation at Kampung Lachang in Rantau Panjang, Kelantan. — Bernama
PETALING JAYA: Since the onset of the northeast monsoon on Nov 5, the Fire and Rescue Department has rescued more than 5,000 flood victims, with operations spanning 12 states.
Its director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad said that up to Wednesday, the rescue efforts involved 3,332 victims in Kelantan, 723 in Kedah, 663 in Terengganu, 125 in Negri Sembilan, 100 in Perak, 51 in Melaka, 46 in Pahang, 22 in Sabah, 15 in Johor, five in Selangor and three in Perlis.
In total, 687 operations were carried out for flood evacuations and transfers, with 679 conducted using land and water assets, and eight using air transport.
“Additionally, 2,826 monitoring operations were carried out,” he said, adding that 32 landslides occurred during the same period.
Sarawak had the most with 18, followed by Terengganu (five), Pahang and Kelantan (two each), and Kedah, Perak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Johor (one each).
Regarding fallen trees, 388 cases were recorded, with Kelantan reporting the highest number at 55, followed by Perak (46), Terengganu (44), Sabah (39), Johor and Selangor (37 each), Negri Sembilan (33), Sarawak (26), Kedah (18), Penang (16), Pahang (15), Melaka (13), Kuala Lumpur and Labuan (three each), Putrajaya (two) and Perlis (one).
Nor Hisham said post-flood clean-up operations have already begun in 17 locations across Kedah, Perak, Selangor, Terengganu and Kelantan.
“They are being carried out at five locations in Kelantan, six in Terengganu, four in Kedah and one each in Perak and Selangor. A total of 109 officers are involved,” he added.
Meanwhile, multiple agencies under the Transport Ministry have been mobilised for flood relief efforts.
They include the Road Transport Department, Land Public Transport Agency, Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd, Prasarana Malaysia Bhd, MRT Corp, the Malaysia Marine Department, Rail Asset Corporation, Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd, CCC-ECRL Sdn Bhd and the Kuantan Port Authority.The ministry also launched Tabung Bantuan Ihsan Madani MOT 2024 to assist flood victims.
Additionally, the ministry reminded airline passengers that under the amended Malaysian Aviation Consumer Protection Code 2016, they are entitled to refunds in the original payment method for flight delays or interruptions due to weather or safety concerns.
As at 4pm yesterday, the number of flood evacuees dropped to 5,476 from nearly 95,000 recorded on Nov 29.
Thirty-one temporary relief centres are currently active.
The northeast monsoon is expected to continue until March with five to seven episodes of heavy rainfall forecast for this period.
