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NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT
NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
NEW YORK – Kebakaran hutan yang masih ‘menyeksa’ California Selatan dianggarkan mengalami kerugian ekonomi kepada lebih AS$250 billion.
Jumlah itu menjadikannya salah satu bencana alam paling mahal dalam sejarah Amerika Syarikat.
“AccuWeather dan JP Morgan meletakkan anggaran awal kerosakan sebanyak AS$50 bilion dolar, tetapi jumlah yang dijangkakan dengan cepat meningkat kepada lebih tiga kali ganda jumlah itu apabila kebakaran terus merebak melalui kawasan kejiranan di Altadena, Pacific Palisades dan Malibu,” lapor Los Angeles Times.
Dalam tempoh dua hari ini, beratus-ratus anggota bomba bertempur dengan pelbagai kebakaran di bukit sekitar Los Angeles dan daerah Ventura, termasuk kebakaran besar-besaran berhampiran Castaic.
Kebakaran awal pagi Khamis di Sepulveda Pass telh mengancam komuniti Brentwood dan Bel-Air. , dan satu lagi yang masuk ke tanah ladang Ventura County,
Anggaran terkini daripada perkhidmatan ramalan cuaca AccuWeather meletakkan jumlah jangkaan kerosakan dan kerugian ekonomi kepada antara AS$250 bilion dan AS$275 bilion.
Itu termasuk kos kerosakan, kehilangan nyawa, penjagaan kesihatan, gangguan perniagaan dan kesan ekonomi yang lain. – Agensi
BANGKOK: Perdana Menteri Thailand, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, mengarahkan khidmat pengangkutan awam diberikan secara percuma di Bangkok selama seminggu bermula hari ini.
Tindakan itu dilihat sebagai usaha terdesak kerajaan untuk mengurangkan kesesakan lalu lintas serta kabus asap yang menyelubungi bandar itu dengan pencemaran selama beberapa hari.
Bas dan laluan kereta api elektrik di ibu negara akan diberikan percuma, kata Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Suriya Juangroongruangkit, dalam satu taklimat di Bangkok semalam sambil menambah arahan berkenaan datang daripada perdana menteri.
Kerajaan akan memberi pampasan kepada pengendali BTS Group Holdings dan Bangkok Expressway serta Metro, bersama pengendali bas yang dikawal kerajaan.
Langkah itu menunjukkan betapa seriusnya masalah pencemaran di Bangkok, yang memaksa banyak sekolah ditutup minggu lalu dan orang ramai digesa bekerja dari rumah.
Perdana Menteri turut dikritik oleh pembangkang kerana menghadiri Forum Ekonomi Dunia di Davos sementara bandar itu bergelut dengan masalah pencemaran yang teruk, sehingga tersenarai sebagai antara bandar paling tercemar didunia.
Pencemaran udara yang semakin teruk itu berlaku menjelang cuti Tahun Baharu China di sebahagian besar Asia, berkemungkinan akan membawa ribuan pelancong tambahan ke bandar dan pantai berhampiran.
Kos ekonomi akibat kualiti udara yang semakin buruk, disebabkan oleh tahap zarah halus tidak sihat dikenali sebagai PM2.5, dijangka mencecah sekurang-kurangnya 3 bilion baht (RM390 juta) sebulan.
Anggaran berdasarkan perbelanjaan kesihatan dan kos berkaitan itu dikeluarkan oleh Pusat Penyelidikan Kasikorn yang berpangkalan di Bangkok, dalam nota penyelidikan pada 24 Januari.
Selain daripada pengangkutan percuma di Bangkok, perdana menteri turut mengarahkan pihak agensi untuk mempertingkatkan usaha menangani masalah jerebu dengan menggalakkan orang ramai untuk bekerja dari rumah.
Kerajaan turut melakukan pembenihan awam, serta mengetatkan pemantauan bagi mengurangkan asap kenderaan dan debu dari tapak pembinaan, menurut beberapa hantaran di X.
"Kerajaan tidak hanya berpeluk tubuh, sebaliknya akan mengambil setiap tindakan yang munasabah dilakukan untuk memperbaiki keadaan ini dengan segera," ciap Paetongtarn, menggambarkan kabus PM2.5 sebagai isu nasional.
Walaupun sebahagian daripada kabus asap dihasilkan dalam negeri, negara itu turut terkesan dengan asap daripada kebakaran yang dilakukan oleh petani di seluruh Asia Tenggara, termasuk di Kemboja dan Laos.
Namun, kerajaan Thailand berharap inisiatif menyediakan pengangkutan awam secara percuma akan memberi kesan positif.
"Kami menjangka ini akan membantu mengurangkan penggunaan kereta persendirian sebanyak 20 hingga 30 peratus.
"Kami akan menilai semula sama ada kerajaan perlu melanjutkan langkah ini," kata Suriya. - AGENSI
BANGKOK: Southeast Asian cities were among five most polluted in the world on Friday according to air-monitoring organisation IQAir, with Ho Chi Minh City ranked second-most polluted, followed by Phnom Penh and Bangkok fourth and fifth, respectively.
In the Thai capital, a thick smog was seen covering the city's skyline. Workers, especially those who spend most of their time outdoors, were suffering.
"My nose is constantly congested. I have to blow my nose all the time," said motorcycle taxi driver Supot Sitthisiri, 55.
Air pollution is caused by a combination of crop-related burning, industrial pollution and heavy traffic.
In a bid to curb pollution, the government is allowing free public transportation for a week, Transport Minister Suriya Juangroongruangkit said.
Some 300 schools in Bangkok were closed this week, according to the city administration.
"They should take more action, not just announce high dust levels and close schools. There needs to be more than that," said Khwannapat Intarit, 23.
"It keeps coming back, and it’s getting worse each time."
Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said in a social media post that companies and government agencies should allow staff to work from home to reduce car use and construction sites should be using dust covers.
"The government is fully committed to solving the dust problem," she said.
In Vietnam's largest city, IQAir said the level of fine inhalable particles in Ho Chi Minh City was 11 times higher than the recommended level by the World Health Organization.
Weeks earlier, the capital Hanoi was ranked the world's most polluted, prompting authorities to issue a warning about the health risks from air pollution and urging the public to wear masks and eye protection.
Governments in Southeast Asia were pushing for longer-term solutions to bring pollution down including a carbon tax and promoting the use of electric vehicles.
‘We have the right to know’: Ipoh residents still demand answers on mysterious explosion
- Admin UKK
- Berita
IPOH – Three months have passed since an unexplained explosion rocked Ipoh, and now residents are up in arms over the silence of the authorities over the incident, demanding updates on the investigation to bring closure to the matter.
Alyaa, a local resident, insisted that the public has a right to be informed about the findings.
“By right, we should know the updates as we want to know what caused the blast. That is what the locals are demanding,” the retail worker told Scoop at Taman Canning.
Auxiliary policeman Nur Syed, 32, and barista Amzar Afkar echoed her concerns, expressing frustration over the lack of information.
“The authorities need to inform the public of the outcome of their investigation, as it would bring some relief to concerned residents,” Amzar told Scoop.
Syed, however, expressed doubt about receiving clear answers. “If they could not get the answer, how are they supposed to (provide updates)?” he asked.
Music teacher Kong, 52, shared a similar scepticism about the authorities’ willingness or ability to provide clarity.
“Unless they have something to tell us, then we are supposed to know what is happening. But I don’t think they will give us the answer. Perhaps they already knew or maybe they could not find the reason. Nevertheless, we still want to know what is happening,” she said.
Rajoo, 46 (not his real name), a resident from Tasek, said there should be no attempt to cover up the incident. He stressed that transparency was vital, whether the explosion was a natural occurrence or caused by human activity.
“What answer would be given to the residents, that is a different matter. But there should be no attempt to cover up this incident as we are living here. If we know the truth behind the blast, we could feel a sense of security,” he added.
On October 21, a loud explosion was reported across several parts of Ipoh, accompanied by tremors that shook buildings. Reports indicated that the noise was heard in areas such as Silibin, the city centre, Bercham, and Gunung Lang around 11.05 am.
The Star reported claims on Facebook that the noise was also heard in Kuala Kangsar, 47km from Ipoh. Former Perak police chief Datuk Azizi Mat Rais later stated that various agencies would investigate the incident from multiple perspectives to identify its cause.
‘Like a nuclear blast’
While explosions are not uncommon in Ipoh due to nearby limestone quarries, residents noted that this incident was unusual. Many speculated about its origin, with theories ranging from military exercises to quarry activities.
Amzar said the noise was so severe that it could be felt in Tambun, over 10km away, while Syed noted reports that the explosion was heard as far as the Meru-Menora Tunnel, approximately 12km from the city.
Rajoo recounted how a friend in Bercham told him of feeling a shockwave. “I live near the quarry site, so I thought it was yet another quarry blast. But this blast was different, and its impact was very strong. It was like a nuclear blast,” he said.
Kong, who was in her kitchen at the time, vividly remembered the loud noise but did not feel any tremors. She said the city had experienced a similar incident years ago but described this as particularly unusual.
Alyaa suggested the noise might have been caused by military exercises, although she suspected a quarry might have been the source.
Syed dismissed the possibility of it being a quarry blast.
“If it came from a quarry, we would know as there would be dust flying around the city. Also, even if it was caused by military training, there is no way it would have created such a noise that could be heard everywhere and far away,” he said.
For the record, Azizi confirmed that rock-blasting activities, earthquakes, military exercises, and sonic booms from supersonic jets had been ruled out as causes.
KOTA KINABALU – Pusat Kajian Bencana Alam (NDRC), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) mahu terus meneroka kerjasama pintar dengan pelbagai agensi bagi mengukuhkan lagi aspek pengurusan bencana alam.
Perkara ini dinyatakan Pengarah NDRC, Prof. Madya Ts. Gs. Dr. Carolyn M. Payus ketika mengalu-alukan lawatan kerja daripada delegasi Pejabat Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Pulau Pinang (PSUKPP) yang diketuai Ketua Unit Pengurusan Bencana, Ambika Devi a/p Daran ke UMS baru-baru ini.
Menurut Carolyn, lawatan kerja PSUKPP itu antara lain bertujuan untuk mengenal pasti fungsi dan kajian yang dijalankan oleh NDRC dengan lebih mendalam serta meneroka peluang kolaborasi rentas sektor dalam pengurusan bencana.
“Kami amat mengalu-alukan kunjungan daripada agensi kerajaan serta NGO yang lain seperti pihak PSUKPP yang mampu membuka peluang kolaborasi dalam bidang penyelidikan serta perundingan yang berkaitan dengan pengurusan bencana negara di peringkat rentas sektoral.
“Kunjungan seumpama ini dilihat dapat menggalakkan kolaborasi pihak academia serta menerokai persefahaman pintar antara pihak NDRC UMS dengan pihak agensi kerajaan negeri seperti PSUKPP ke arah memperkasa agenda pengurangan risiko bencana negara,” katanya.
Beliau menambah, NDRC sememangnya berperanan sebagai pusat tumpuan untuk semua penyelidikan yang berkaitan dengan bencana alam di Sabah.
“Pusat ini juga aktif dalam aktiviti-aktiviti melibatkan pengurusan dan pengurangan risiko bencana melalui penyelidikan dan program kesedaran awam terutamanyadalam kesiapsiagaan komuniti terhadap bencana.
“Ini termasuk program memperkasakan perlaksanaan Community-based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM), iaitu pengurusan risiko bencana yang berasaskan komuniti di Sabah,” katanya.
Pada akhir lawatan tersebut, delegasi seramai 9 orang itu telah dibawa melawat Sistem Pemantauan Gempa Bumi, SEISCOMP3 di Makmal NDRC, Stesen Seismologi Kota Kinabalu (UMS) dan Stesen Tolok Pasang Surut (Tsunami), MetMalaysia di Jeti UMS. – MalaysiaGazette