December 27, 2021
SHAH ALAM: Several areas in Kelantan and Terengganu are at risk of being inundated at the end of the year, according to a flood prediction model from the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID).
This comes as the Fire and Rescue Department says it has learnt its lesson from the deluge in Selangor and is prepared for any floods in the wake of the continuous rain that has been forecast.
According to DID’s flood prediction model, several areas in the two states are expected to be flooded on Dec 30 and 31.
Bernama reported that the flood prediction was issued following a Significant Weather Forecast warning by the Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) from Dec 25 until the end of the year.
Kelantan, said the DID, was expected to experience a risk of flooding in Gua Musang and Kuala Krai and nearby areas between 8pm on Dec 30 until 8am the next day.
This is following an expected rise in water levels to above the danger mark for Sungai Galas in Limau Kasturi and Dabong as well as Sungai Kelantan in Kuala Krai.
The risk projection also involved Dungun and its surrounding areas with the water level in Sungai Dungun in Kampung Pasir Raja climbing above the danger mark.
DID called on the public to constantly be on the alert for flood warnings issued by the authorities from time to time.
On Saturday, National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) director-general Datuk Dr Aminuddin Hassim said continuous rain was expected in various parts of the country from today following MetMalaysia’s forecast of monsoon rain and low-pressure weather in the South China Sea.
“Both occurrences have the potential of causing continuous rain on Sabah’s east coast and Sarawak’s west coast from Dec 27-31.
“It may also cause incessant rain in Johor, Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan on Dec 30 and 31,” he told reporters at the flood operation centre at Taman Sri Muda on Saturday.
Urging for the forecast to be taken seriously and for the relevant agencies to make the necessary preparations, Aminuddin said: “The state disaster secretariats will instruct their district officers to ensure maximum preparedness.
“We will follow up with each state and district and assist if there is any aspect, including logistics, that is lacking.”
The Geoscience and Mineral Department, he added, had also identified 44 landslide locations in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.
“The ministry has taken the necessary action with the cooperation of various agencies, including the Public Works Department,” he said.
Fire and Rescue Department director-general Datuk Seri Mohammad Hamdan Wahid said it was ready for the possibility of a second wave of floods, adding that it was monitoring potential dangerous and at-risk areas in Pahang, Sarawak and Selangor.
“We’ve conducted 13 monitoring operations in Pahang, 34 in Sarawak and 20 in Selangor.
“We’ve learnt our lesson based on what happened in Selangor. We are ready for the possibility of a second wave that could happen within a day or two until Dec 29, according to reports by MetMalaysia,” he added.
For the east coast states, Mohammad Hamdan said all preparations were intact and organised.
“We’ve monitored preparations for the east coast and they are very organised.
“We believe agencies there will have the capabilities to face the floods effectively,” he said, adding that it was also closely monitoring Sarawak’s west coast and Sabah’s east coast.
“Let us pray that the second wave is not as bad or worse than the first one. It is important to be prepared at the district and state levels with assistance from the federal level,” he said.
