PUTRAJAYA, Oct 26 — Malaysia’s third offer to assist Nepal in its search and rescue (SAR) operations for mud flood victims was accepted after two earlier offers were turned down, paving the way for the deployment of the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART), equipped with technical expertise and advanced detection equipment.

SMART commander Senior Fire Superintendent 1 Abdul Manaf Che Isa, who led the mission, said Malaysia initially offered to send 50 rescuers, followed by a second offer of 25 personnel with SAR equipment, but Nepal declined both offers because it already had sufficient rescue teams.

He said Nepal’s government eventually accepted Malaysia’s third offer, which involved deploying just 11 SMART personnel, nine high-capacity drones and specialised detection equipment, after several rounds of discussions.

“Our initial offer was to deploy 50 personnel for SAR operations, but Nepal had already deployed its own rescue teams and declined the offer. The Nepalese government needed specialised equipment and expertise that it lacked.

“At the same time, we did not want to travel there only to find that there was no work for us to do,” he said in a recent interview with Bernama on SMART’s humanitarian mission in Nepal.

According to Abdul Manaf, Nepal declined the first two offers not because it did not need Malaysia’s assistance, but because it had already mobilised enough rescuers, including members of the military, police and fire services, volunteers, and international SAR teams from countries including China and South Korea.

He said SMART’s strengths included high-capacity drones for aerial surveys, mapping disaster-hit areas and locating victims, as well as specialised equipment capable of detecting sounds and movement beneath mud deposits.

“Buildings may be buried beneath mud while their structures remain intact. The area may look clear from above, but this equipment enables us to detect sounds and movement. Such equipment was not available there, and the authorities saw the need for it,” he said.

Abdul Manaf said diplomatic engagement through the Malaysian Embassy in Kathmandu also played a key role in convincing the Nepalese military that SMART could provide the technical assistance needed, including SAR detection equipment, search cameras, satellite phones and specialised communication systems.

He said the Nepalese government prioritised self-sufficient international relief teams, a criterion that aligned with SMART’s capabilities recognised by the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG), as disaster victims need local shelter, food supplies and logistical support.

Once Nepal’s government had approved the mission, the SMART team was deployed to the Nepalese military’s tactical base in Trishuli, from where it took a helicopter to reach search areas no longer accessible by road because of infrastructure damage.

Abdul Manaf said the mud floods had drastically altered the terrain, making existing maps unreliable and forcing SMART personnel to use drones, GPS, and physical observations to determine search routes.

“For ground operations, we could not rely fully on maps as the terrain had changed significantly from what they depicted. Roads and buildings had been destroyed, leaving only rocks, sand and mud,” he said, noting that mud deposits reached depths of three to five metres, and up to eight metres in some areas.

He said heavy rain and overcast conditions also hampered helicopter operations, forcing personnel to be dropped off on hillsides before walking for more than an hour to reach the operation site, while also facing the risk of further disasters.

He said SMART personnel spent three days conducting secondary searches with Nepalese military tactical teams in designated sectors between Timure and Syabrubesi, using their expertise and specialised equipment to search the last known location of the Malaysians reported missing, but found no survivors.

SMART also shared aerial images and drone footage with the families concerned and handed over equipment and supplies to the Nepalese military to support continued search operations.

Abdul Manaf stressed that the SMART team had searched as extensively as possible amid difficult geographical, weather and safety conditions, adding that SAR operations focused first on rescuing survivors, with recovery efforts undertaken if necessary.

He also appealed to the families to remain resilient and patient while awaiting further steps by the Malaysian and Nepalese governments through coordination by the Foreign Ministry. — Bernama

Alor Setar: Tiga lagi pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS) dibuka di Kedah susulan peningkatan jumlah mangsa banjir, setakat 8 pagi ini.

Sekretariat Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Bencana Negeri (JPBN) memaklumkan setakat ini, sebanyak 224 mangsa daripada 74 keluarga dari daerah Yan, Kuala Muda dan Pendang ditempatkan di lima PPS.

Di Yan, tiga PPS dibuka iaitu Sekolah Kebangsaan (SK) Teroi yang menempatkan 101 mangsa daripada 29 keluarga, Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina (SJKC) Pei Eng (41 mangsa daripada 21 keluarga) dan Dewan Lestari Guar Chempedak (26 mangsa daripada sembilan keluarga).

Sementara itu, di Kuala Muda, sebanyak 40 mangsa daripada sembilan keluarga ditempatkan di Surau As Saadiah, manakala di Pendang sebanyak 16 mangsa daripada enam keluarga ditempatkan di Dewan KEDA Tanjung Setol.

Laman sesawang rasmi Public Banjir pula memaklumkan tiga stesen di Kedah melepasi tahap bahaya iaitu Sungai Durian Burung di Durian Burung, Sungai Melaka di Padang Matsirat dan Kampung Padang Pasir.

Sungai Anak Bukit di Taman Aman dan Sungai Titi Kerbau di Kubur Panjang melepasi tahap waspada, manakala Sungai Pendang di Pendang melepasi tahap amaran.

Hujan berterusan sejak Sabtu lepas menyebabkan beberapa kawasan di Kedah dilanda banjir dan hujan dijangka berterusan hari ini.

KUALA LUMPUR, 26 Okt: Seramai 25,592 pegawai dan anggota Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia (JBPM) serta 1,248 aset jabatan itu berada dalam keadaan siap siaga bagi menghadapi Monsun Timur Laut (MTL) 2026/2027 yang dijangka bermula esok hingga Mac tahun depan.

Ketua Pengarah JBPM Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Mohammad berkata jabatan itu memperkukuh perancangan operasi menerusi penyediaan anggota, kesiapsiagaan aset dan logistik serta penempatan sumber secara strategik bagi menghadapi kemungkinan bencana sepanjang tempoh berkenaan.

Beliau berkata pada fasa awal MTL dari November ini hingga Januari depan, sebanyak tiga hingga lima episod hujan lebat berterusan dijangka berlaku, sekali gus meningkatkan risiko banjir di kawasan rendah dan berhampiran sungai.

Menurutnya, keadaan itu juga berpotensi menyebabkan laut bergelora dan kenaikan paras laut di perairan Laut China Selatan berikutan tiupan angin timur laut yang berterusan.

“Keutamaan kami adalah keselamatan rakyat. JBPM sudah merangka strategi tindak balas menyeluruh yang merangkumi aspek pencegahan dan mitigasi, perancangan serta kesiapsiagaan, tindak balas kecemasan dan pemulihan pascabencana,” katanya dalam kenyataan hari ini.

Beliau berkata dalam merancang kesiapsiagaan operasi, JBPM mengambil kira 3,682 lokasi titik panas banjir yang dikenal pasti di seluruh negara berdasarkan data Jabatan Pengairan dan Saliran (JPS).

Nor Hisham berkata data berkenaan dijadikan panduan untuk menentukan keutamaan penempatan anggota dan aset berdasarkan tahap risiko serta keperluan di lapangan.

Bagi mempercepat tindakan di kawasan berisiko, sebanyak 29 Pasukan Gerak Cepat (PGC) digerakkan, manakala pangkalan operasi hadapan atau Regional Forward Base (RFB) di Pulau Pinang, Terengganu dan Johor dioperasikan bagi memudahkan pergerakan anggota serta aset ke lokasi yang memerlukan bantuan.

Dari segi keanggotaan, Nor Hisham berkata kesiapsiagaan operasi JBPM membabitkan 13,631 Pegawai Sepenuh Masa (PSM), 2,227 Pegawai Bomba Bantuan (PBB), 8,956 anggota Pasukan Bomba Sukarela (PBS) dan 62 petugas kejuruteraan.

“Pembekuan cuti antara 80 hingga 100 peratus turut dilaksanakan mengikut keperluan operasi, khususnya di negeri yang berisiko terjejas, bagi memastikan kekuatan anggota mencukupi,” katanya.

Beliau berkata pasukan respons pantas turut diperkukuh menerusi penglibatan Perkhidmatan Respons Perubatan Kecemasan (EMRS) dan Pasukan Penyelamat Di Air (PPDA) bagi menyediakan bantuan perubatan kecemasan serta melaksanakan operasi menyelamat mangsa banjir.

“JBPM turut menyediakan 571 kenderaan angkut ringan, 144 kenderaan angkut berat dan 529 aset marin, selain empat helikopter serta tiga unit dron bagi menyokong operasi menyelamat.

“Sebanyak 150 bot komuniti juga disediakan bagi membantu penduduk setempat melaksanakan tindakan awal ketika kecemasan dengan mengambil kira aspek keselamatan,” katanya.

Sementara itu, Nor Hisham berkata JBPM turut memberi perhatian terhadap perubahan cuaca yang dijangka berlaku pada fasa akhir MTL, dari Januari hingga Mac depan, apabila taburan hujan diramalkan berkurangan, khususnya di utara Semenanjung dan Sabah.

Beliau berkata pengaruh fenomena El Niño yang sangat kuat pula berpotensi meningkatkan keadaan panas dan kering serta risiko gelombang haba yang lebih ekstrem.

“JBPM akan terus memperkukuh kesiapsiagaan dan kerjasama dengan agensi berkaitan bagi memastikan operasi menyelamat serta bantuan kecemasan dapat dilaksanakan dengan cekap dan berkesan demi melindungi nyawa, keselamatan orang awam dan harta benda sepanjang MTL 2026/2027,” katanya. – TVS

JAKARTA: Lebih 4,300 hektar hutan dan tanah yang terjejas akibat kebakaran di enam wilayah di pulau Kalimantan dan Sumatera, Indonesia masih dalam operasi pemadaman dengan pihak berkuasa mengerahkan ribuan personel serta puluhan pesawat bagi mengawal kebakaran.

Pemangku Ketua Pusat Data, Maklumat dan Komunikasi Bencana Badan Nasional Pengurusan Bencana (BNPB), Berton Panjaitan berkata setakat Ahad, operasi pemadaman masih diteruskan di kawasan seluas 3,392 hektar di tiga wilayah di Kalimantan dan 990 hektar lagi di tiga wilayah di Sumatera.

"Pelbagai strategi tindak balas terus dilaksanakan oleh kerajaan pusat dan daerah dengan bantuan sukarelawan, termasuk operasi pengubahsuaian cuaca menggunakan ais kering," katanya dalam satu kenyataan pada Isnin.

Berton berkata Kalimantan Tengah mencatatkan kawasan terjejas terbesar iaitu seluas 2,458 hektar, diikuti Kalimantan Barat (884 hektar) dan Kalimantan Selatan (52 hektar).

Di Sumatera, beliau memaklumkan bahawa Sumatera Selatan merekodkan kira-kira 889 hektar, diikuti Jambi (89 hektar) dan Lampung (12 hektar) termasuk kawasan di Taman Negara Way Kambas, manakala tiada operasi pemadaman aktif dilaporkan di Riau.

Beliau berkata sejumlah 57,050 anggota di darat dan 61 pesawat digerakkan bagi menyokong operasi pemadaman di enam wilayah berkenaan, dengan flit udara merangkumi 37 helikopter pengebom air dan 24 pesawat bagi tujuan rondaan, operasi pembenihan awan serta aktiviti sokongan lain.

Berton berkata operasi memadam kebakaran turut diteruskan di kawasan pergunungan Arjuno-Welirang di Jawa Timur, yang menyaksikan kebakaran menjejaskan kira-kira 1,090 hektar sejak 16 Okt, dengan 11 kawasan panas dikesan di kawasan Bumiaji setakat awal pagi Ahad.