Labuan firemen prepared for possible natural disasters

LABUAN: The Fire and Rescue Department here is physically, mentally and logistically well prepared to face the possibility of natural disasters due to the current heavy downpour on the island.

Its director, Zainal Madasin, said the department is ready to face the floods and landslides, as they have learned over the past years.

“We are prepared for possible floods or landslides and preparations have been made as we have studied the cycle of disaster management,” he said.

Zainal said his department would be working together with the relevant authorities for all rescue work, and he believes the newly established National Disaster Agency would be the secretariat to manage all agencies and for monitoring situations on the ground.

“As we have all made our stand, the chain of command must be very clear,” he said.

“Based on our understanding, our department and the police will be on the ground leading the mission, while other agencies like the People’s Volunteer Corps (Rela) and Civil Defence department will also be working with us. We want to avoid any redundancy during the disaster and everyone of us should know our jurisdiction and tasks,” he said.

He advised villagers residing in flood-prone areas and hilly areas to take extra precaution and to evacuate their homes should there be a need to do so.