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PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT
NATIONAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT AGENCY
Prank calls still a hindrance for Fire and Rescue Dept's operations, says Melaka state director
- Admin UKK
- Berita
MELAKA: Prank calls continue to disrupt the Melaka Fire and Rescue Department's operations, with four incidents recorded in 2024 and two more between January and August this year.
State director Mohd Zaidi Maat emphasised that every call must be treated as genuine until verified.
"Although such prank calls have reduced drastically, we still have to check each one seriously, because lives and property may be at risk," he said after officiating the Fire and Rescue Cadet Corps marching competition at the Ayer Keroh Fire and Rescue station on Thursday (Aug 7).
Mohd Zaidi noted that prank and nuisance calls have significantly declined since the implementation of MERS 999, the national emergency response system operated by Telekom Malaysia, which screens every call before dispatching emergency teams.
"It's not like before. Previously, we received calls from heartbroken or lonely individuals but now, it's mostly people playing pranks without understanding the consequences," he said.
While experienced responders can often sense when a call might be false, he stressed that each incident still affects manpower and operations.
Separately, Mohd Zaidi highlighted the growth of the Fire and Rescue Cadet Corps across the state, with more than 600 students currently participating under the supervision of 11 fire stations statewide.
The programme equips students with hands-on experience in firefighting, rescue techniques, teamwork, and leadership.
"These cadets are learning discipline and public responsibility. We're planning to expand the programme to more schools across the state," he said.
He added that the cadet corps serves as a training ground for future firefighters and helps build greater fire safety awareness among youth.
Paras Air Empangan Bukit Merah Susut, Nelayan Darat Turut Terkesan
ABUJA (Reuters) -Nigeria's environment ministry issued a flood alert on Wednesday for 19 states, warning that heavy rainfall expected from August 5-9 could trigger flooding in various parts of the country.
The National Flood Early Warning Center identified areas at risk, including five states in the northwest, three in the south, and four in the central region, such as Niger State, where flooding in May killed 117 people and left dozens missing as well as destroying thousands of homes.
Authorities urged residents and local governments to take precautionary measures to reduce potential damage and safeguard public safety.
It is currently Nigeria's peak rainy season, a period typically associated with severe floods.
In 2022, the country experienced its worst flooding in over a decade, when more than 600 people died, 1.4 million people had to leave their homes and 440,000 hectares (1.09 million acres) of farmland were destroyed.
(Reporting by Camillus EbohWriting by Elisha Bala-GbogboEditing by Frances Kerry)
SAINT-LAURENT-de-la-CABRERISSE, France: French firefighters on Wednesday battled to halt the spread of a wildfire in the south of the country that has left one person dead as emergency workers in Spain fought a fire that has forced the evacuation of more than 1,500 people from a resort.
With Europe facing fresh August heatwaves as concerns grow over the impact of global warming, many areas are on alert for the risk of wildfires.
Winds were hampering efforts to put out a wildfire raging Wednesday near the Spanish Mediterranean tourist town of Tarifa that prompted evacuations, the regional government said.
Meanwhile the French blaze, which started on Tuesday, has destroyed or damaged 25 homes in the southern Aude department, where some 2,000 firefighters are struggling to control the largest wildfire in France this summer.
It has killed one person and injured 13 others, two of them seriously. "The fire is still very active and the situation remains unfavourable," said Lucie Roesch, secretary general of the Aude prefecture, citing drought conditions, rising temperatures and strong winds.
An elderly woman died in her home, one person is missing and two people were injured, one of whom is now in critical condition with severe burns, according to the Aude prefecture.
The 13 injured included nine firefighters.
The wildfire is a "catastrophe on an unprecedented scale" triggered by global warming, said French Prime Minister Francois Bayrou while on a visit to the affected Aude region.
"What is happening today is linked to global warming and linked to drought," Bayrou added.
The blaze has burned some 16,000 hectares of land in less than 24 hours.
Planes were dropping water on the flames, but Roesch warned "this fire will keep us busy for several days. It's a long-term operation."
Camping grounds and at least one village were partially evacuated, and several roads were closed.
"I left everything behind me," said David Cerdan, a 51-year-old who fled Saint-Laurent-de-la-Cabrerisse, where a woman in her 60s died after she refused to leave her home.
"I'm putting it into perspective. I only have material damage," said Cerdan, who lived near the victim.
The wildfire is the biggest in France so far in a summer which has already seen some 9,000 fires, mainly along the Mediterranean coast, according to the emergency management service.
An investigation has been opened into the cause of the fire, said local officials.
"All of the nation's resources are mobilised," President Emmanuel Macron said on X, calling on people to exercise "the utmost caution."
The Aude department in particular has seen an increase in areas burnt in recent years, aggravated by low rainfall and the uprooting of vineyards, which used to help slow down the advance of fires.
Strong, changing winds made the firefighters' job particularly difficult, officials said.
People as far as 30 kilometres away from the fire have felt its impact.
"The air is suffocating...the smell of burning has seeped into homes," said Serge de Souza, a local in the seaside town of Port-la-Nouvelle.
The frequency of wildfires is taking a toll on local residents, said Aude Damesin, who lives in the town of Fabrezan.
"It's terrible for the wildlife, the flora, and for the people who are losing everything," she said.
The European Union's crisis management commissioner, Hadja Lahbib, said on X that "the EU stands ready to mobilise international support, if needed."
Although fire crews had secured areas near hotels and other tourist accommodation, the fire in Spain's Tarifa was still not under control, said officials.
"What concerns us most right now is the wind – whether it shifts between the west and east," said Antonio Sanz, interior minister for Andalusia's regional government.
Spanish public broadcaster TVE reported that the fire had started in a camper van at a beachside campsite, before being quickly spread by strong winds.
About 1,550 people and 5,500 vehicles were evacuated from campsites, hotels, and homes, said Sanz.
Emergency crews worked through the night to prevent the fire from reaching coastal resorts, but residents and tourists have not been allowed to return, he added.
Spain is experiencing a heatwave with temperatures nearing 40C in many regions and officials reported 1,060 excess deaths in July that could be attributed to intense heat.
Climate experts say that global warming is driving longer, more intense and more frequent heatwaves around the world, making for more favourable forest fire conditions.--AFP
NEW DELHI: Tentera India menggunakan anjing pengesan, dron dan jentera berat dalam usaha mencari lebih 50 mangsa yang masih hilang selepas banjir kilat melanda kawasan pergunungan Himalaya semalam.
Sekurang-kurangnya empat orang disahkan maut selepas air berlumpur yang deras disertai serpihan runtuhan menghanyutkan bangunan dan meranapkan penempatan di bandar pelancongan Dharali di negeri Uttarakhand, menyebabkan kemusnahan besar di kawasan lembah pergunungan yang sempit itu.
Usaha mencari dan menyelamat berdepan kesukaran berikutan hujan monsun yang masih lebat, talian komunikasi terputus dan talian telefon yang rosak.
Namun, apabila pasukan penyelamat berjaya sampai kepada mangsa yang terperangkap, jumlah individu yang dilaporkan hilang berjaya dikurangkan, berbanding kira-kira 100 orang yang tidak dapat dikesan lewat Selasa.
“Operasi mencari mangsa yang hilang masih diteruskan,” kata Pegawai Pasukan Tindak Balas Bencana Kebangsaan (NDRF), Mohsen Shahedi.
Shahedi berkata, lebih 50 orang hilang di Dharali, sementara 11 anggota tentera masih tidak dapat dikesan di kampung Harsil yang terletak di lokasi lebih rendah.
“Beberapa unit tambahan tentera bersama anjing pengesan, dron pengangkut, jentolak dan peralatan berat dikerahkan bagi mempercepat usaha mencari dan menyelamat,” menurut kenyataan tentera India.
Helikopter tentera turut digunakan untuk menghantar bekalan penting dan memindahkan mangsa yang terperangkap selepas jalan-jalan musnah teruk akibat banjir.
Ketua Menteri Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami berkata, banjir itu berpunca daripada kejadian ‘letusan awan’ yang menyebabkan hujan turun terlalu lebat dalam masa singkat.
Beliau berkata, pasukan penyelamat digerakkan secara besar-besaran dan pengangkutan udara digunakan walaupun berdepan kesukaran akibat hujan yang masih lebat dan kabus tebal.
Rakaman video tular menunjukkan beberapa penduduk cuba berlari menyelamatkan diri sebelum dipukul arus deras lumpur yang turut merobohkan bangunan.
Seorang saksi, Suman Semwal, memberitahu akhbar Indian Express, bapanya melihat air deras turun dari kampung di atas bukit bersama bunyi dentuman kuat sebelum menghentam Dharali.
“Apa yang mereka lihat berada pada skala yang tidak dapat dibayangkan. Mereka cuba menjerit, tetapi suara mereka tidak kedengaran.
“Orang ramai tidak faham apa yang sedang berlaku. Dalam masa 15 saat, banjir itu menghentam mereka,” kata Semwal.
Sebahagian besar bandar itu dilitupi lumpur setebal kira-kira 15 meter, menurut pasukan penyelamat, sehingga ada bangunan yang tertimbus sepenuhnya.
Gambar yang dikeluarkan oleh tentera dan agensi penyelamat menunjukkan anggota pasukan mengangkat batu dan serpihan dengan tangan, selain jentera berat membersihkan laluan.
Menurut jabatan kaji cuaca India, semua sungai utama di negeri Uttarakhand kini melepasi paras bahaya.
“Penduduk sudah dipindahkan ke kawasan lebih tinggi berikutan peningkatan paras air akibat hujan tanpa henti,” kata tentera lagi.
Banjir dan tanah runtuh yang membawa maut sering berlaku sepanjang musim monsun dari Jun hingga September.
Namun pakar berkata, perubahan iklim dan pembangunan bandar yang pesat meningkatkan kekerapan serta keseriusan bencana ini.-AFP