PETALING JAYA: It takes more than a village to rescue someone.
The resources deployed depended on the location, terrain, severity and complexity of each situation, with difficult operations sometimes requiring specialised teams, equipment and support from multiple agencies, said Fire and Rescue Department director- general Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Mohammad.
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He said the department carried out 6,479 search and rescue (SAR) operations from 2024 till last month, involving incidents ranging from missing hikers, drowning cases to floods and landslides.
“Initial operations involve personnel and appropriate rescue vehicles from the nearest fire station, supported by communications equipment, personal protective equipment, first-aid supplies and other relevant equipment.
“For larger or technically complex operations, the department may deploy specialised teams such as the Special Tactical Operation and Rescue Team of Malaysia (STORM), Water Rescue Team, K9 Search Unit, Emergency Medical Rescue Services and Air Unit, depending on operational requirements,” he told The Star.
Nor Hisham said the number of personnel deployed was determined by operational assessments, with more complex cases requiring extensive manpower and coordination between agencies.
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The scale of such deployments was evident during the search for a 49-year-old woman who got lost at Gunung Batu Putih in Perak for two weeks before she was found safe on June 6.
Nor Hisham said 24 personnel from several agencies, including eight STORM members, were sent to the search sector aboard the department’s Mi-17 helicopter.
“This reflects a multi-agency deployment for complex terrain operations.”
He said that the risk of situations ending up in emergencies could be reduced through better preparation and compliance with safety guidelines.
Risk factors include inadequate route planning for hiking trips, insufficient equipment and supplies, failure to monitor weather conditions, entering prohibited or hazardous waterways, and disregarding flood warnings or evacuation instructions.
Such actions could put rescuers at additional risk, particularly when operations involved difficult terrain or adverse weather conditions, he said.
On Mount Kinabalu, Nor Hisham said some incidents could be avoided if climbers adhered strictly to designated routes and Sabah Parks regulations.
From 2024 to September this year, the department recorded 2,937 SAR operations in 2024, 2,417 last year and 1,125 in the first nine months of this year.
Floods accounted for the largest number of operations (2,953 cases) during the period. Other cases included missing persons in forests (666) and landslides (629).
The department also carried out 622 operations involving drownings in rivers and waterways. Other missions included drownings at beaches, lakes and waterfalls, as well as collapsed structures.
Nor Hisham said the department was strengthening mobilisation procedures, improving the accuracy of location information about an incident, and enhancing communications during operations.
It was also identifying areas with recurring SAR demand to improve the coordination and deployment of resources according to geographical conditions and operational requirements.
The department would continue specialised training and joint exercises, review equipment needs based on local risks, improve SAR planning and strengthen coordination among agencies involved in complex or prolonged missions.
He said greater emphasis was also being placed on preventing avoidable incidents through public awareness of hiking, outdoor recreation, water safety and weather-related hazards, particularly in areas where accidents occurred repeatedly.
