Govt identifies 12 drowning hotspots

PUTRAJAYA: The government has identified 12 places in the country with at least five or more cases of drowning and has called for monitoring by the Fire and Rescue Department during the school holidays.

These hotspots, identified by the Urban Well-being, Housing and Local Government Ministry as highly risky for water activities, are Sungai Kg Batu Payung in Tawau, Sabah, (which claimed 15 lives); Sungai SKC in Kg Timah, Selangor, (seven); Sungai Kg Sabak in Pangkalan Chepa, Kelantan, ( six); Sungai Chiling ( six) and Sungai Gasi ( five) in Selangor. Sungai Sendat Waterfall, Selangor, (12); Berembun Waterfall in Raub, Pahang, (10): Chamang Waterfall, Pahang ( five); Nipah Coast, Kelantan, (14); Tok Bali Estuary, Kelantan, (seven); Teluk Bahang, Penang, (seven); Semenyih Dam, Selangor, (10).

Minister Tan Sri Noh Omar, who disclosed these details, said he had instructed the Fire and Rescue Department to monitor these areas during the school holidays.

Speaking at a press conference after chairing a meeting of the Water Activity Security Council here yesterday, he said Fire and Rescue Department statistics showed that 65 cases of drowning occurred in water bodies or recreational spots in the first two months of this year.

Forty-two of the cases occurred in rivers/canals, 11 off the coasts, eight at waterfalls and four in lakes/mining pools, he added.

“A total of 327 cases of drowning in water bodies and recreational spots were reported last year, up from the 260 in 2016,” he said.

Noh said the ministry planned to enforce by-laws to act against individuals who conducted water activities in prohibited areas. — Bernama