PEKAN: Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia (JBPM) Pahang berusaha menyekat kebakaran hutan paya gambut di Jalan Pekan-Nenasi dekat Sungai Miang, di sini daripada merebak ke kawasan lain.

Pengarah JBPM Pahang, Mohd Razam Taja Rahim, berkata kebakaran mula dikesan minggu lalu telah memusnahkan kira-kira enam hektar kawasan hutan paya gambut yang bersempadan dengan projek ladang kelapa sawit dan projek tanaman nanas penduduk.

Katanya, operasi memadam kebakaran kini dilakukan 42 anggota Balai Bomba Pekan dan Balai Bomba Peramu Pekan secara berterusan sejak kebakaran berkenaan dikesan berlaku pada awal Ramadan.

Beliau berkata, kawasan hutan Paya Gambut terbabit hampir setiap tahun berlaku kebakaran. Cuaca panas dan angin kencang berterusan menjadi faktor utama kebakaran mudah berlaku di kawasan terbabit.

SEKINCHAN: The Selangor Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) is ramping up disaster preparedness as Aidilfitri approaches, bracing for potential storms like the one that battered Taman Ria today, damaging at least 30 homes.

Selangor JBPM Director, Wan Md Razali Wan Ismail, said storm readiness measures would be a key agenda in a coordination meeting at the Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) Convention Centre on March 20.

"Our assets and manpower are fully prepared, but unpredictable weather remains our biggest challenge," he said.

"The upcoming State Disaster Committee Meeting will now also include storm preparations, in addition to its initial focus on extreme heat and fire hazards."

He said this after attending the 2025 Zone 7 Sabak Bernam Iftar and Tarawih Prayer Ceremony at the Sekinchan Fire and Rescue Station.

Earlier, the Temporary Evacuation Centre (PPS) at Dewan Seri Sekinchan was activated to shelter 13 victims from three affected families.

This is the second storm-related disaster in Sekinchan this month, following a similar incident on 6 March in Kampung Parit Empat, which left eight homes destroyed.

Selangor JBPM Northern Zone 7 Chief, Samsol Maarif Saibani, said the affected residents comprise six men and seven women. Videos and images capturing the storm in Sekinchan have also gone viral on Facebook.

KUCHING (March 12): A total of 150 welfare aid recipients each received RM100 cash and a hamper from the Welfare Department (JKM) Sarawak at the ‘Sejambak Kasih Hari Raya Aidilfitri’ programme here yesterday.

When met by reporters at the event in Majma Mall here, Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah highlighted the state government’s commitment of supporting the welfare of its people, particularly during the festive seasons.

“This year, a total of 4,465 welfare aid recipients in Kuching celebrating Hari Raya will receive an additional RM100, on top of their regular monthly aid.

“The department has also increased the monthly assistance for senior citizens from RM500 to RM600. Hopefully, this increase would help ease the burden of our senior citizens.

“If the state’s revenue continues to grow, we hope to provide even better support in the future,” she said.

The minister added that JKM Sarawak had already allocated over RM49 million in aid distribution within the first two months of this year, with senior citizens being the largest group of recipients.

“Sarawak is projected to become an ageing state by 2028, with senior citizens making up 15 per cent of the population. As such, the number of elderly welfare aid recipients is expected to rise.

“However, the government hopes to see an increase in household income so that fewer people will need financial assistance.”

At yesterday’s event, three individuals received their Kenyalang Gold Cards (KGC), and two others were presented with Persons with Special Needs (PwD) cards.

In addition, four families affected by the fire that struck Kampung Tabuan Lot on March 5 were given assistance by JKM.

“Whenever a disaster occurs, the Welfare Department responds immediately. The first form of aid provided is food assistance. Dry food supplies have already been distributed, along with sleeping essentials and kitchen equipment worth RM11,700.

“Other disaster relief assistance, including pocket money, daily clothing, school uniforms, and school supplies, amounts to RM18,400,” said Fatimah, adding that the Sarawak government had also increased its disaster relief allocation, doubling the daily meal allowance for disaster victims from RM25 to RM50.

Also present yesterday were Fatimah’s deputy ministers Datuk Rosey Yunus and Datuk Mohamad Razi Sitam, as well as ministry permanent secretary Datu Felicia Tan.

KOTA KINABALU: Jumlah mangsa banjir berlindung di 29 pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS) di Sabah tidak banyak berubah tengah hari ini, iaitu 4,530 orang daripada 1,488 keluarga berbanding 4,555 orang daripada 1,493 keluarga pada malam tadi.

Sekretariat Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Bencana Negeri (JPBN) Sabah dalam kenyataan memaklumkan mangsa banjir paling ramai direkodkan di Beaufort dengan 1,719 mangsa daripada 556 keluarga di tujuh PPS.

Ini diikuti Tenom dengan 1,119 orang daripada 420 keluarga ditempatkan di 14 PPS, Membakut (914 orang daripada 312 keluarga di lima PPS) dan Sook (778 orang daripada 200 keluarga di tiga PPS).

"Sebanyak 41 kampung terjejas akibat banjir iaitu 16 di Tenom, masing-masing 10 di Beufort dan Membakut serta lima di Sook," menurut kenyataan itu.

Sementara itu Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR) Sabah juga menerusi kenyataan memaklumkan jambatan di KM0.74 Jalan Minasut Kampung Baru ke SRK, Keningau ditutup sehingga dimaklumkan kelak.

"Penutupan disebabkan struktur penampan jambatan runtuh akibat bencana banjir kilat dan tidak boleh dilalui semua jenis kenderaan," menurut kenyataan itu.