2,000 SOLDIERS ON STANDBY
THE 8th Infantry Brigade will come to Kelantan’s aid when a second round of widespread flooding strikes as expected this week. The primary ‘culprit’ in the inundation will be the high-tide phenomenon, says the Drainage and Irrigation Department.
THE Eighth Infantry Brigade has deployed its assets to face the second wave of monsoon-season flooding expected to hit Kelantan this week.
Its commander, Brigadier-General Datuk Nazari Abdul Hadi, said more than 2,000 army personnel had been instructed to be on standby for the eventuality of the second wave due to an expected series of high-tide phenomena.
“At the moment, we will maintain the same manpower and assets that we have. Five hundred (the army personnel) have been deployed to flood-prone areas, while the rest are on standby or doing routine mobile work. We will consider adding more logistical assets if the situation (requires them),” Nazari said at the SK Gual Tinggi relief centre here yesterday.
He said cooperation between the brigade and other relevant agencies, such as the police and Fire and Rescue Department during the ongoing flood season had been commendable.
“We have managed to control the situation. At the moment, only a few places in the district here are in 1m to 2m of floodwaters, while other areas have seen water recede slightly.”
The Kelantan Drainage and Irrigation Department is expecting four episodes of the hightide phenomenon to take place in the state.
Its director, Kamal Mustapha, said the episodes would cause floodwaters to rise between 1.4m and 1.6m in several districts.
He said the first episode started yesterday and would persist until Wednesday; the second would begin from Wednesday to Dec 11; the third would run from Dec 16 to 21, and the fourth was expected to hit on Dec 23 to 31.
“These episodes will affect districts such as Tumpat and Rantau Panjang, apart from low-lying villages along Sungai Golok,” Kamal said.
Up to 8pm last night, the number of floods victims was recorded at 10,893. The evacuees were housed in 4,263 relief centres in five districts.
The water level of Sungai Golok was recorded at 10.35m, breaching its danger level of 9m.
In Terengganu, state Civil Defence Force director Lieutenant-Colonel Che Adam A. Rahman said the number of flood victims in Marang stood at 473 people from 137 families in four relief centres at 7pm yesterday. Marang opened relief centres at SMK Seri Payong, SK Bukit Gasing, SK Marang and SK Pasir Putih.
“In Kuala Nerus, 261 people from 61 families were housed in four centres. In Kuala Terengganu, the number has increased to 77 people from 22 families evacuated to two flood relief centres.”
Adam said in Dungun, 45 people from 11 families are staying in the Paka Civic Centre and in Setiu, two centres were opened to house 65 people from 14 families.
... we will maintain the same manpower and assets that we have. Five hundred (the army personnel) have been deployed to flood-prone areas... BRIGADIER-GENERAL DATUK NAZARI ABDUL HADI Eighth Infantry Brigade commander
“The sole relief centre in Besut was closed at 11am as floodwaters in the district have receded.” Page 1 pic: Soldiers helping Taman Desa Tanjung Damai residents to evacuate to a flood relief centre in Kuala Nerus yesterday.