Multi-agency emergency response simulation exercise held
MIRI: Motorists travelling along the busy Miri bypass yesterday morning were surprised to see a multi-agency emergency response attending to a five-car accident.
It was actually a simulation exercise under the Miri Disaster Emergency Response Training (MDERT) 2022 programme involving 32 personnel from Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), Miri Hospital, Miri Divisional Health Office, Royal Malaysian Police, Malaysian Civil Defense Force and Malaysian Red Crescent.
Zone 6 acting Miri Fire chief senior Supt II Ahmad Nizam Sapaiee said the exercise started with a ‘distress call’ from Bomba operations centre at 9.05am.
A team from Lopeng Fire and Rescue Station arrived at the scene 9.10 am.
The operations commander reported a five-car accident involving 20 victims during heavy rain.
“Five victims were helped to safety by members of the public while 15 victims were
extricated by firefighters from red zone and transferred to yellow and green zones.
“Two victims died at red zone and one died while receiving initial treatment,” he explained.
Ahmad Nizam said the drill ended at 10.19am when firefighters handed over the bodies to the police at 10.20am.
Miri Hospital Emergency and Trauma Specialist Dr Aou Tze Yang said it was the first simulation exercise held in two years due to the pandemic.
Dr Aou said such training should ideally be held yearly to be well prepared for emergencies and identify weaknesses to be improved.
The accident simulation exercise was the culmination of a three-day MDERT 2022 programme which started Wednesday with disaster management course held at Miri Hospital.