Kuala Terengganu: Jabatan Kemajuan Masyarakat (Kemas) sudah mengeluarkan arahan dan garis panduan kepada kakitangan bagi menghadapi musim Monsun Timur Laut (MTL) tahun ini.
Pengarah Kemas Terengganu Dr Faridah Mat berkata, kelas-kelas Taman Bimbingan Kanak-Kanak (Tabika) antara paling terkesan apabila berlaku banjir.
Menurutnya, dianggarkan antara 100 hingga 125 kelas Tabika Kemas mengalami kerosakan akibat ditenggelami banjir hingga menjejaskan antara 2,500 hingga 3,125 murid pada MTL, tahun lalu.
Katanya, Tabika Kemas yang sering terjejas akibat banjir di Terengganu adalah di Hulu Terengganu, Besut dan Dungun.
"Ia membabitkan kawasan-kawasan pedalaman yang sering dilanda banjir besar hingga ada tabika yang hanya kelihatan bumbung sahaja akibat ditenggelami air.
Beliau berkata demikian ketika ditemui selepas Majlis Penyerahan BGL Kemas Negeri Terengganu, di Kalang Warisan, Pulau Manis, Serada, di sini, hari ini.
Menurutnya, terdapat sebanyak 856 tabika dengan bilangan kanak-kanak seramai 18,000 orang di negeri ini.
"Ada tabika yang mengalami kerosakan setiap kali berlaku banjir dan ia akan dibaiki bagi menjamin pembelajaran kanak-kanak tidak terjejas.
"Justeru, persiapan awal sudah dilakukan bagi mengurangkan impak kerosakan terhadap dokumen dan peralatan yang digunakan dalam sesi pembelajaran," katanya.
GEORGE TOWN: Penangites residing in coastal areas or near rivers are urged to remain vigilant, as the state is expected to experience a high tide phenomenon from Oct 18 to 21, said state Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) director Datuk Mohd Nazri Yasmin.
He said that based on the tide tables, the highest tide level in Penang waters is projected to reach between 2.8 and 3.1 metres CD (chart datum), with peak times occurring between midnight and early morning.
“The combination of heavy rainfall within a short period and high tide poses a significant risk to coastal areas and major rivers in Penang.
He advised residents living near the coast or main rivers to stay alert, as the risk of flooding is significantly heightened during high tide events accompanied by heavy rain.
urrently, a total of 54 flood warning siren devices have been installed statewide, with 30 of these funded by the state government, and the remainder provided through PRAB by the federal government.
These devices will sound an alarm to alert residents if the river water level in nearby areas reaches a warning threshold, allowing them to prepare to move to safer locations.
“Additionally, a total of 49 river water level monitoring devices have been installed - 19 under the state government and 30 through PRAB. These devices are designed to monitor river water levels, and there are 97 rainwater measuring stations installed, comprising 53 under the state government and 44 under PRAB,” he said.
BUTTERWORTH: The Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) has identified and consistently monitors 124 flood hotspot locations in Penang.
Penang APM assistant director (Operations) Major Kamal Jakariah (rpt: Jakariah) said the locations are being consistently monitored now that the state is in the monsoon transition phase.
He said the Seberang Perai Tengah district recorded the most hotspots, involving 44 locations, followed by Seberang Perai Utara (SPU) with 37 locations and 15 locations each in Seberang Perai Selatan and Barat Day, while 13 locations are in Timur Laut.
“APM Penang has made preparations to face the Northeast Monsoon,” he told reporters after the Penang APM’s training in preparation for the Northeast Monsoon season, at the SPU APM office in Bagan Jermal, here today.
“The Penang APM also closely monitors information regarding the weather forecast and the water level in the rivers,“ he said.
He said the Penang APM has also trained 570 residents from seven villages on how to deal with floods in their respective areas.
The training focused on basic actions to take during disasters, emergencies, and evacuations, and it is part of an ongoing exercise, he added.