The Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department will deploy drones to help monitor floods in Terengganu during this northeast monsoon season.

Its air division director Datuk Norazam Khamis said two drone units will be based at the department’s forward operations base at the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Academy Eastern Region, Wakaf Tapai here.

He said the technology can be used to monitor flood developments from the air, especially in rural areas and locations near rivers within a 16km distance.

“We will deploy drones to assist the state in ground monitoring if the rain continues.

“It is more suitable to monitor using drones,” he said after conducting aerial monitoring using the AW189 helicopter in the flood-affected areas yesterday, Bernama reported.

“We will send two drones from the state Fire Department, while the Terengganu government also has two drones. Each unit will be operated by two certified personnel with the expertise.”

Norazam said the department will also add helicopter facilities at the base if the need arises for rescue operations, to deliver food and necessities and provide medical services.

A total of 58 members of the Rapid Action Team (Red Team) are also fully prepared to be deployed at any time in case of a disaster.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department (Metmalaysia) has issued a warning of dangerous levels of continuous heavy rain in several areas in Terengganu and Pahang until Friday.

The public can get the latest weather information via the department’s official website, mycuaca mobile application and its official social media pages, as well as the Metmalaysia hotline at 1300-22-1638 for further enquiries.