PORTAL RASMI
JABATAN PERDANA MENTERI
AGENSI PENGURUSAN BENCANA NEGARA
JABATAN PERDANA MENTERI
AGENSI PENGURUSAN BENCANA NEGARA
THE SUN has been particularly active in recent days, releasing powerful bursts of energy into space.
Scientists monitoring solar activity have issued warnings about a severe solar radiation storm heading towards our planet.
But is Earth really experiencing the largest solar storm in two decades today?
Earth will be experiencing the largest solar radiation storm in over 20 years today, according to the National Weather Service's Space Weather Prediction Center.
The severe solar radiation storm reached S4 level on the agency's severity scale, exceeding the intensity of the October 2003 "Halloween" space weather storms. A severe geomagnetic storm watch was issued for Tuesday (Jan 20) due to Earth's arrival of a coronal mass ejection that blasted from the sun on Jan 18.
Whilst solar storms might sound alarming, they're actually quite common occurrences. The sun goes through an 11-year cycle of activity, and we're currently in a particularly active phase that began in 2024 and is expected to continue through 2026.
What makes today's event special is its intensity, not that it's happening at all.
The last time such severe conditions were observed was during the Halloween solar storms of October 2003. That event generated the largest solar flare ever recorded by the GOES system and caused a one-hour power outage in Sweden, whilst 12 transformers in South Africa were disabled and had to be replaced.
During the 2003 storms, satellites, GPS and radio communications experienced problems or outages, whilst astronauts aboard the International Space Station had to take cover from high radiation levels. The majority of low Earth orbiting satellites were temporarily lost, requiring several days of around-the-clock work to re-establish their positions.
But the Halloween storms also provided a spectacular treat. Auroras were observed at unusually low latitudes, as far south as Texas, Florida, California and Mediterranean countries in Europe.
The current storm is expected to create similarly dazzling displays. Forecasters predict the northern lights could be visible in more than 20 US states, potentially reaching as far south as Alabama and northern California if geomagnetic activity intensifies to G4 levels.
For those in Malaysia, unfortunately the auroras will most likely not be visible here.
Auroras typically occur near the poles and require very strong geomagnetic storms to push them down to mid-latitudes.
Malaysia is far too close to the equator to witness auroral displays even during the strongest storms.
However, Malaysia may still feel some effects from the solar storm. GPS and satellite navigation systems can experience disruptions around the magnetic equator, particularly after sunset, due to a phenomenon called ionospheric scintillation.
This natural occurrence causes GPS signals to fluctuate and can lead to positioning errors. During major solar storms, these effects can be enhanced, potentially causing temporary inaccuracies in navigation apps, mapping services and GPS-guided systems.
Whilst today's storm is significant, it pales in comparison to the most powerful solar event ever recorded: the Carrington Event of September 1859.
Named after British astronomer Richard Carrington who observed the solar flare that preceded it, this geomagnetic storm was twice as large as any other in the past 500 years.
Auroras were seen as far south as the Caribbean, Panama, Venezuela and Honolulu in the northern hemisphere, whilst the southern lights were visible as far north as Santiago, Chile.
Telegraph systems worldwide failed, with reports of sparks showering from machines, operators receiving electric shocks and papers set ablaze.
The sky was so bright that birds began to sing, thinking it was morning, and people read newspapers by the light of the auroras.
Had the Carrington Event occurred today, experts estimate it could cause between US$1 trillion (RM4.47 trillion) and US$2 trillion (RM8.94 trillion) in damage and widespread disruptions to power grids, satellite communications and GPS systems.
The current storm poses increased radiation exposure risks for astronauts and flights on polar routes, enhanced risks to satellites and potential loss of high-frequency communications in polar regions.
Airlines, NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration have been notified to prepare for the storm's effects.
Despite the potential for disruptions, space weather officials stress this is a natural phenomenon we can prepare for, not a crisis.
Modern technology is far better equipped to handle solar storms than in 2003, though the interconnected nature of today's satellite systems means vigilance remains important.
Ribut Matahari dahsyat menuju ke Bumi
- Admin UKK
- Berita
LONDON – Bumi dijangka dilanda ribut suria yang boleh menyebabkan beberapa satelit radio terhenti, lapor akhbar Metro UK semalam.
Letupan zarah suria sedang bergerak ke arah Matahari pada kelajuan berjuta-juta kilometer sejam dan akan tiba sama ada malam ini atau esok pagi (waktu tempatan).
Ini bermakna penduduk Britain berpeluang melihat fenomena dikenali sebagai ‘Northern Lights’ yang berlaku apabila plasma berinteraksi dengan medan magnet Bumi.
Pejabat Meteorologi Britain memberi amaran bahawa letusan zarah bercas boleh menyebabkan ribut suria yang teruk.
Ahli-ahli meteorologi angkasa lepas mengeluarkan amaran cuaca angkasa berwarna kuning, dari pukul 12.01 tengah malam (waktu tempatan) ini hingga 11.59 malam (waktu tempatan) esok untuk ribut geomagnetik G3.
Amaran itu menyatakan, walaupun gangguan bekalan elektrik boleh berlaku semasa ribut sedemikian, ahli-ahli meteorologi menganggap risiko tersebut kecil.
Selain itu, frekuensi radio dan navigasi satelit GPS mungkin terjejas selama berjam-jam.
Terdapat risiko ribut itu boleh menjadi lebih teruk daripada yang dijangkakan, menjadikannya ribut geomagnetik G4.
Perkhidmatan cuaca angkasa lepas Amerika, NOAA juga mengeluarkan amaran untuk ribut G4 semalam.
Ia memberi amaran tentang ‘kemungkinan masalah kawalan voltan yang meluas dan beberapa sistem perlindungan mungkin tersilap mengeluarkan aset utama dari grid kuasa’. – AGENSI
PETALING JAYA – Jabatan Meteorologi (MetMalaysia) mengeluarkan amaran cuaca buruk di tiga negeri petang ini.
MetMalaysia dalam satu hantaran berkata, amaran itu dikeluarkan susulan hujan lebat dan angin kencang yang dijangka berlaku sehingga pukul 7 malam.
“Ribut petir, hujan lebat dan angin kencang dijangka berlaku di Perak melibatkan Larut, Matang Dan Selama, Kuala Kangsar, Batang Padang dan Muallim.
“Turut terlibat, Pahang di Tanah Tinggi Cameron dan Rompin,” katanya.
Menurut MetMalaysia, cuaca buruk turut dijangka berlaku di Johor melibatkan Segamat, Batu Pahat, Kluang dan Pontian. – KOSMO! ONLINE
RM2.09 bilion kerugian harta benda akibat kebakaran struktur dan kenderaan sepanjang 2025
- Admin UKK
- Berita
IPOH – Sebanyak RM2.09 bilion kerugian harta benda akibat kebakaran melibatkan struktur dan kenderaan direkodkan di seluruh negara sepanjang tahun lalu.
Timbalan Ketua Pengarah (Operasi) Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia (JBPM), Datuk Ahmad Izram Osman berkata, sebanyak 16,111 kes kebakaran melibatkan struktur dan kenderaan telah diterima dan diambil tindakan sepanjang tempoh berkenaan.
Katanya, dalam tempoh itu, sebanyak 98 kematian direkodkan dengan 77 kes bagi insiden kebakaran struktur dan selebihnya kebakaran kenderaan.
“Sepanjang tahun lalu, sebanyak 12,292 atau 76 peratus kes kebakaran struktur direkodkan manakala kebakaran kenderaan melibatkan 3,819 atau 24 kes dengan anggaran kerugian keseluruhan sebanyak RM2.09 bilion.
“Walaupun kerugian tersebut agak besar, nilai harta yang berjaya diselamatkan juga tinggi apabila dianggarkan RM6.44 bilion berjaya diselamatkan pasukan bomba menerusi operasi sepanjang tahun lalu,” katanya.
Beliau berkata demikian pada sidang akhbar selepas Program Sumbangan Kebajikan JBPM dengan kerjasama Persatuan Suri dan Pegawai Wanita (Perisma) Kebangsaan di Ibu Pejabat JBPM Perak di Ipoh hari ini.
Mengulas lanjut beliau berkata, bulan Julai merekodkan jumlah insiden tertinggi dengan 1,448 kes manakala November mencatatkan jumlah terendah apabila 1,211 kes dilaporkan.
Katanya, berdasarkan kepada pecahan kes mengikut negeri, Selangor merupakan negeri tertinggi dengan 3,657 kes atau 23 peratus daripada jumlah di seluruh negara.
“Ia diikuti Johor dengan 1,996 kes, Perak (1,826 kes), Kuala Lumpur (1,332 kes) dan Pulau Pinang (1,192 kes) manakala Sabah merekodkan kes kematian tertinggi membabitkan 21 mangsa.
“Daripada sudut nilai kerugian akibat kebakaran Selangor dan Johor menjadi negeri tertinggi dengan masing-masing merekodkan RM543.6 juta dan RM477.3 juta,” katanya. – KOSMO! ONLINE
KUALA LUMPUR: Sebanyak RM5.04 juta bantuan di bawah Tabung Bencana Tanaman Padi (TBTP) disalurkan kepada 2,255 pesawah yang mengalami pengurangan atau kehilangan pengeluaran hasil tanaman akibat bencana sepanjang 2025.
Menteri Pertanian dan Keterjaminan Makanan, Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu, berkata di bawah Tabung Bencana Pertanian (TBP), sebanyak RM17.9 juta nilai bantuan disalurkan kepada 2,358 orang petani.
Katanya, kerajaan melalui Kementerian Pertanian dan Keterjaminan Makanan (KPKM) mewujudkan dua jenis bantuan akibat bencana iaitu TBTP dan TBP.
TBTP adalah bantuan yang disediakan kepada petani atau pesawah sama ada di dalam atau luar jelapang padi. Jenis bantuan adalah berbentuk bantuan kewangan dan bantuan pertanian (bukan kewangan).
"Syor nilai bantuan ditetapkan berdasarkan kepada umur tanaman padi iaitu RM876 per hektar bagi tanaman berumur 1-70 Hari Lepas Tabur (HLT) dan RM1,800 per hektar bagi tanaman berumur 71-120 HLT.
"Bantuan ini tertakluk kepada had tuntutan iaitu sebanyak tiga hektar sahaja," katanya dalam jawapan bertulis disiarkan di laman sesawang Parlimen semalam.
Beliau menjawab soalan Datuk Dr Yusuf Abd Wahab (GPS-Tanjong Manis) yang meminta menyatakan bantuan atau ganti rugi kepada petani yang mengalami kerugian kerosakan tanaman disebabkan bencana kerosakan ban pertanian akibat ombak laut atau sebab lain.
Mohamad berkata sebagai langkah mitigasi, Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Bencana juga ditubuhkan dan Bilik Gerakan Bencana sudah diaktifkan di setiap jabatan dan agensi peringkat negeri.
Katanya, ia bagi memantau keadaan semasa di daerah dan negeri masing-masing serta memberikan bantuan kepada golongan sasar yang memerlukan.
"Kementerian akan terus komited untuk membantu golongan sasar yang terkesan akibat bencana di seluruh negeri dengan pelbagai inisiatif untuk memastikan kelangsungan aktiviti di keseluruhan sektor agromakanan tidak terjejas," katanya.