KOTA TINGGI - Jumlah kerugian akibat bencana banjir di seluruh negara pada tahun lepas berjaya dikurangkan kepada RM755 juta, berbanding dengan RM1.03 billion berbanding pada tahun 2022.

Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi berkata, pengurangan kerugian sebanyak RM275 juta itu hasil daripada kecekapan semua pihak menerusi konsep pengurangan risiko bencana.

Beliau berkata, meskipun bencana banjir tidak boleh dielakkan namun impak bencana boleh diminimumkan dengan tahap kesiapsiagaan menghadapi banjir sentiasa dipertingkatkan.

"Sejak saya menjadi Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Bencana Pusat, saya tekankan komunikasi dan koordinasi. Oleh itu kerjasama semua pihak dengan penyelarasan yang betul membolehkan sesuatu gerak kerja itu lebih baik.

"Ia seterusnya dapat mengurangkan kerugian pengurusan bencana negara yang akhirnya menjadikan Malaysia sebuah negara berdaya tahan bencana.

"Pada Monsun Timur laut 2023 yang lalu, nilai kerugian yang ditanggung kerajaan adalah sebanyak RM755 juta dari Januari sehingga Disember 2023. Nilai kerugian ini menurun berbanding RM1.03 bilion pada MTL 2022, iaitu pengurangan kerugian sebanyak RM275 juta," katanya.

Beliau berkata demikian pada sidang akhbar selepas Majlis Pelancaran Bulan Kesiapsiagaan Nasional (BKN) 2024 di Pusat Pemindahan Sementara (PPS) Dewan Serbaguna Taman Kota Jaya dekat sini pada Khamis.

Hadir sama, Menteri Besar, Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi dan Menteri Pertahanan, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin merangkap Ahli Parlimen Kota Tinggi.

Sebelum itu, Ahmad Zahid yang juga Menteri Kemajuan Desa dan Wilayah melancarkan Dasar Pengurangan Risiko Bencana Negara 2030.

Beliau berkata, dasar itu bagi memastikan langkah pengurusan bencana yang lebih relevan dengan meningkatkan keupayaan negara dalam menghadapi dan menguruskan bencana dengan lebih baik.

"Syukur Alhamdulillah, penggubalan dasar ini telah pun selesai dan mendapat kelulusan Kabinet dan pada hari ini, Dasar Pengurangan Risiko Bencana Negara 2030 ini akan dilancarkan pada bersempena dengan Bulan Kesiapsiagaan Nasional 2024," ujarnya.

KUALA LUMPUR: A storm wreaked havoc in the Klang Valley yesterday, causing three incidents of fallen trees in Gombak, Petaling Jaya, and Desa Melawati here.

However, no fatalities or injuries were reported.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department's (JBPM) Operations Division assistant director, Ahmad Mukhlis Mukhtar, said they received a call regarding a fallen tree on the road leading to Sungai Pusu, Gombak, at 6.10pm.

He said six firemen from the Selayang Fire and Rescue Station arrived at the scene half-an-hour later.

"As soon as we arrived, we found that a tree had fallen and blocked the road, but there were no casualties or damage to the road," he said in a statement today.

Meanwhile, a woman in a Perodua Axia had a scare after a falling tree struck her vehicle. She was at the Taman Megah LRT Station, Petaling Jaya, when the incident happened.

Ahmad Mukhlis said his department received an emergency call at 7.39pm regarding the 33-year-old victim.

"When firefighters arrived at the scene, the victim was still in the car, but was successfully extricated," he said.

In another incident, three vehicles were damaged after being struck by a falling tree along the main road leading to the Desa View Towers condominium in Taman Desa Melawati.

Kuala Lumpur JBPM Operations Centre said it received a call at 6.34pm, and nine firemen from the Wangsa Maju station were dispatched to the scene.

"Firemen used chainsaws to cut down the tree that had struck the vehicles and blocked traffic at the scene.

"Kuala Lumpur City Hall also assisted in managing the incident. No victims were involved, and the operation concluded at 7.39pm," he said. – BERNAMA

KAOHSIUNG - Taiwan menutup sekolah dan pasaran kewangannya pada Rabu ketika Taufan Krathon membadai bahagian selatan dan timur pulau itu, dengan membawa hujan lebat dan angin kencang.

Menurut Pentadbiran Cuaca Pusat Taiwan (CWA), Taufan Krathon, dengan angin berkelajuan 173 kilometer sejam (km/j) sehingga 209km/j dan kini berada kira-kira 140 kilometer (km) dari barat daya bahagian selatan Kaohsiung setakat jam 7 pagi (waktu tempatan).

Katanya, Krathon yang diturunkan kepada kategori sederhana daripada kuat di bawah sistem pemantauan ribut Taiwan pada Selasa yang kini dijangka membadai Kaohsiung atau Tainan pada Khamis.

"Ketibaan Krathon bergerak sangat perlahan. Tempoh kedatangannya mungkin tertangguh tetapi ramalannya akan tiba jam 10 pagi pada Khamis.

“Selepas ia mendarat, taufan ini akan menjadi lemah dengan cepat. Kemudian, ia akan menjadi ribut tropika pada pagi Khamis,” kata peramal kaji cuaca Zeng Zhao-zheng kepada AFP

Pejabat dan sekolah di seluruh pulau itu sudah ditutup dan Kementerian Dalam Negeri menyatakan hampir 10,000 orang telah dipindahkan dari kawasan-kawasan terdedah sebagai langkah berjaga-jaga.

Sementara itu, Presiden Lai Ching-te memberi amaran pada Selasa bahawa taufan itu berkemungkinan menyebabkan kerosakan besar dan menggesa orang ramai supaya terus berwaspada disebabkan oleh laluannya yang agak jarang berlaku dan taufan itu diramal akan keluar dari pantai timur pulau itu.

Semua penerbangan domestik dan perkhidmatan feri telah dibatalkan pada Rabu dan kira-kira 250 penerbangan termasuk dari Taiwan ke Jepun, Hong Kong, Filipina dan Korea Selatan sudah digantung.

Kementerian Pertahanan Korea Selatan berkata, hampir 40,000 anggota tentera telah bersiap siaga bagi berdepan kemungkinan.

Di seluruh Taiwan, terdapat 46 laporan kecederaan berkaitan taufan sehingga Rabu dan seorang mangsa yang berada di barat daerah Yunlin dilaporkan hilang selepas terjatuh ke dalam laut.

Bencana taufan adalah perkara biasa di sekitar rantau tersebut pada masa tahun ini.

Walau bagaimanapun, kajian baru-baru ini menunjukkan bahawa taufan semakin membentuk lebih dekat dengan garisan pantai, semakin intensif dengan lebih cepat dan bertahan lebih lama di atas tanah akibat perubahan iklim.

Di Kaohsiung, pihak berkuasa mengedarkan beg pasir dan membersihkan longkang bagi mengelak kejadian banjir berleluasa seperti mana berlaku semasa Taufan Gaemi melanda pada Julai lalu.

Gaemi adalah taufan terkuat pernah mendarat di Taiwan dalam tempoh lapan tahun, menyebabkan sekurang-kurangnya 10 orang terbunuh manakala ratusan lagi orang awam dilaporkan mengalami kecederaan.

Taiwan sudah biasa berdepan dengan ribut tropika yang kerap berlaku dari Julai hingga Oktober, tetapi pakar berkata perubahan iklim telah meningkatkan kekerapannya berlaku sehingga membawa kepada hujan lebat, banjir kilat dan tiupan angin kuat.

Penduduk di Kaohsiung mengambil langkah berjaga-jaga seperti menutup tingkap rapat, mengisi beg pasir dan memasang penghadang di sekeliling rumah mereka bagi mengelakkan air banjir.

Manakala, pegawai pengawal pantai yang berkawal di tempat pelancongan di Teluk Sizihwan memberitahu orang ramai supaya menjauhkan diri ketika ombak kuat melanda pantai.

Taufan Krathon menghampiri Taiwan selepas melanda beberapa penempatan terpencil pulau Filipina, di mana ia memutuskan bekalan elektrik dan komunikasi serta merosakkan banyak rumah.

Majlis Pengurangan dan Pengurusan Risiko Bencana Kebangsaan Filipina berkata pada hari Rabu bahawa lapan orang cedera dan seorang hilang akibat Krathon.

Ia menambah bahawa 5,431 orang kehilangan tempat tinggal di bahagian utara Filipina. - AFP

PETALING JAYA: The Klang Royal City Council plans to improve drainage infrastructure in older neighbourhoods, particularly Taman Melawis, to prevent recurring flash floods, said its deputy mayor Mohd Zary Affendi Mohd Arif.

“Our efforts will extend to other flood-prone housing estates and common areas in the city as well,” he said when responding to theSun’s report on Tuesday, which highlighted residents’ frustrations over poor drainage infrastructure and inadequate maintenance.

With the country having entered the monsoon transition phase on Sept 24, thunderstorms are expected nationwide, raising the risk of flash floods and causing worry among residents.

“Efforts to enhance drainage infrastructure through a project initiated by the Irrigation and Drainage Department are currently in progress. This project is expected to be completed soon, subject to unforeseen issues and contractor performance.”

He said the council remains committed to hearing residents’ feedback so that it can take appropriate action to make improvements.

“The upgrades to the drainage and piping systems in areas such as Taman Melawis have already begun and will extend to Taman Teluk Pulai, Jalan Jambu Bol, Solok Matahari Taman Melawis and Jalan Serampang.”

In response to complaints of rubbish dumping into drains by residents, he said the Local Authority Management Department team is actively enforcing measures in affected areas.

“Following rains, the council prioritises the immediate cleaning of various drainage systems, including drains, scupper drains, sumps and trash traps to ensure that debris or blockages are quickly removed to prevent flooding.”

He said under Section 47 of the Streets, Drainage and Building Act 1974, individuals throwing or depositing rubbish in public places can be fined RM500 for the first offence while repeat offenders can be charged RM1,000 each.

On Tuesday, resident Jason H. L. Lee, 48, who has lived in Taman Melawis for 31 years, expressed concern about the recurring floods in the housing estate for the past several years.

He said since the neighbourhood is over 50 years old, the drainage system is too small to handle heavy rainfall, causing run-off water to rise quickly even after a downpour of just 30 minutes.

“Flash floods are also partly caused by residents who do not fully appreciate the importance of keeping drains clog-free.

“Some residents throw rubbish, causing the drains to get clogged while others cover the drains during home renovations without considering the impact their actions have in contributing to flash floods.”

Another resident, who gave his name only as Nathan, 40, said Taman Melawis has been experiencing floods for a long time, but the situation was previously not as severe as there were fewer housing developments.

“However, more new homes have been built and coupled with poorly designed drains have caused blockages and ineffective water flow, worsening flooding.”

Several residents said the current drains, which are inadequate for handling heavy rainfall, are the main cause of frequent flash floods.