KOTA BARU: The floods that inundated Malaysia in 2024 caused RM933.4mil in losses, says Fire and Rescue Department director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad.
Citing data released by the Statistics Department, he said that Kelantan took the brunt of the losses at RM139mil in terms of residential property damage, including RM46.2mil in Pasir Mas, RM31.7mil in Tumpat and RM19.2mil in Kota Baru - the three most affected districts in the state.
"These major losses highlight the importance of effective disaster management strategies and mitigation efforts at the state level.
"This data must be thoroughly analysed by the Kelantan Fire and Rescue Department to enable more effective planning, including manpower deployment, asset readiness, and suitable emergency response plans," he said at a Kelantan Fire and Rescue service award ceremony here on Monday (April 21).
He also said that the department had heightened its readiness throughout the country following a shift in weather patterns expected to bring heavy, localised rain in the afternoons that increased the risk of flash floods.
Also, all fire stations and personnel across the country have been instructed to remain on standby following flash flood incidents last week in six districts, including areas in Selangor, Johor, and Sabah, Nor Hisham said.
"We have issued early warnings to all firefighting teams on the ground to be better prepared, especially in high-risk areas.
"Flash floods tend to have a greater impact compared to monsoon floods because they happen suddenly and leave little time for residents to prepare," he noted. - Bernama
