JPAM on full alert for floods in the north
GEORGE TOWN: The Malaysian Civil Defence Force (JPAM) is on full alert to face another wave of floods as the warning level for the northern peninsula has been raised from yellow to orange with possible storm over the next two days.
A total of 400 personnel in Penang were told to report to their stations yesterday in case of major floods.
Penang JPAM deputy director Major Mohd Huzaimi Raup said the Meteorological Department had put the northern states under the orange level warning which means continuous heavy rainfall.
“Other agencies including the Fire and Rescue Services are also on standby,” said Mohd Huzaimi, adding that all JPAM centres in Penang, Kedah, Perlis and Perak had activated their disaster management groups and were ready to go.
“We can mobilise 800 personnel during an emergency. They will be put on standby for 24 hours while taking turns to rotate.”
Mohd Huzaimi also said the department had 19 rescue boats and six lorries for any major operations.
“We only used half of our resources during last Friday’s floods as the major affected areas were only on the island,” he said.
On Sept 15, the island was hit by massive floods, described by many as the worst in 20 years.
Yesterday, a total of 108 people from 34 families in Teluk Kumbar had to be evacuated to the Teluk Kumbar Community Hall.
Flooding was also reported in many parts of Jawi in Nibong Tebal on the mainland.
In Perlis, state Women, Family and Community Development, Welfare and Unity Committee chairman Rela Ahmad advised people living in the affected areas to be prepared for the worst.
The flood-affected areas were Tebing Tinggi, Jalan Sungai Batu Pahat, Padang Melangit, Repuh, Kampung Bakau, Jejawi and several areas in Titi Tinggi.
In Kedah, heavy rain from Wednesday night to yesterday afternoon, coupled with the new moon tide, caused low-lying coastal areas such as Kuala Kedah and Kuala Muda to be in knee-deep water until 3pm yesterday.
In downtown Alor Setar, the Kedah River burst its banks and poured into hundreds of low rise shophouses around it in Tanjung Chali and Pekan Cina.
In Pekan Batu Lima, Sik, a 21-year-old driver managed to flee from his car in time before it got swept away by a swollen river after an accident.