SEGAMAT: Search and rescue teams from the Fire and Rescue Department have been placed on alert nationwide following recent tremors, says its director-general Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Mohammad (pic).
Nor Hisham stressed that the department has all the necessary equipment and expertise to respond to any disaster, including those caused by tremors.
He pointed out that there was already a National Disaster Action Plan which covered earthquakes.
“This is coordinated under the National Disaster Management Agency with the fire department as one of the lead rescue agency,” he told The Star.
Nor Hisham said the department had not received any distress calls following the latest 3.2-magnitude tremor in Segamat, Johor, which happened at 8.59am yesterday.
Segamat was also hit with a 4.1-magnitude earthquake at 6.13am on Sunday. A few hours later that day, Yong Peng experienced a 2.8-magnitude aftershock.
On the department’s preparedness, Nor Hisham said there were 655 personnel under its Special Tactical Operation and Rescue Malaysia (STORM) deployed around the country.
“All our firemen have also undergone basic training on urban search and rescue (USAR) too.”
Yesterday’s tremor was recorded about 18km from the south of Segamat, according to the Meteorological Department (Met Malaysia).
“Tremors were felt in various parts of Johor and southern Pahang.”
