QuickCheck: Did a 'kepala air' or water surge happen at Gunung Pulai as claimed online?

The Johor Fire and Rescue Department found people camping safely at the location where the phenomenon is said to have occurred.

EARLIER on Wednesday (Oct 5), a 53-second video went viral on social media along with a claim that a “kepala air” or water surge phenomenon happened at Gunung Pulai.

Did such an incident happen as claimed?

VERDICT:

FALSE

The Fire and Rescue Department here has issued a statement reassuring the public that there is no “kepala air” (water surge) phenomenon at Gunung Pulai.

The department’s acting Johor director Mohd Rizal Buang said the video was an old clip of a previous incident.

He believes that the video showing heavy rainfall and water gushing at Gunung Pulai in Kulai resurfaced following a bout of heavy rain that lasted a few hours on Wednesday morning.

“All department units were instructed to be on alert and monitor the flood hotspots in the state due to the heavy rain and weather forecast issued by the meteorological department.

“When a unit from the Pekan Nanas fire station conducted a routine check at Gunung Pulai at around 10.30am on Wednesday, there was no water surge phenomenon or floods reported,” he said in a statement.

He added that a check in the area also found some people enjoying a picnic and water activities.

Mohd Rizal reminded the public to stop circulating the video clip, which was also posted on the "Demi Rakyat Johor" Facebook page, as it gives the people the wrong impression about the real situation.

“In the face of emergencies such as floods, the public should mind their safety and contact the authorities immediately, instead of taking videos for the sake of spreading it online,” he added.