SUBANG: Paras air di beberapa empangan di wilayah utara negara mencatat peningkatan kecil dan menunjukkan isyarat awal keberkesanan operasi pembenihan awan dilaksanakan kerajaan sejak semalam.

Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid Hamidi berkata, paras air di dua empangan iaitu Empangan Timah Tasoh di Perlis dan Empangan Pedu, Kedah mencatatkan kenaikan berbanding sebelum ini.

Keberkesanan operasi itu dipantau berterusan melalui analisis data cuaca dan jumlah taburan hujan oleh Jabatan Meteorologi Malaysia (MetMalaysia).

“Semalam paras air me­nunjukkan sedikit peningkatan sekitar 0.01 meter di Empangan Timah Tasoh dan Empangan Pedu manakala di kawasan lain masih belum mencatatkan sebarang perubahan.

“Peningkatan ketara hanya boleh berlaku sekiranya hujan turun secara berterusan. Jadi kita harap hujan dapat berlaku hari ini, diikuti esok dan hari-hari seterusnya,” katanya selepas meninjau Operasi Pembenihan Awan (OPA) yang diselaraskan oleh Agensi Pengurusan Bencana Negara (NADMA) di Pangkalan Udara Sudang di sini, semalam.

Ahmad Zahid yang juga Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Bencana Negara berkata, penghasilan hujan daripada OPA bukan sahaja dapat meredakan suhu panas malah membantu meningkatkan paras air di empangan.

“Kegagalan menangani isu ini secara berkesan, beri kesan rantaian terhadap bekalan makanan, pendapatan komuniti luar bandar serta kestabilan ekosistem setempat,” katanya.

Operasi kali ini memberi fokus kepada 11 empangan utama yang dalam kategori waspada, amaran dan kritikal melibatkan tiga ne­geri di utara iaitu Perak, Kedah dan Perlis, serta satu kawasan di selatan Semenanjung iaitu Johor bermula 6 hingga 8 April 2026.

“Empat siri OPA akan bertumpu di Empangan Timah Tasoh di Perlis. Empangan Ahning, Pedu dan Muda (Kedah), Empangan Temenggor dan Bukit Merah (Perak) serta Empangan Lebam, Upper Layang, Lower Layang, Gunung Pulai dan Machap (Johor),” katanya. – UTUSAN

The Artivist Network, Greenpeace Malaysia and RimbaWatch expressed dissatisfaction with various findings that authorities made in their investigations, claiming they missed several key issues.

These included the zoning of the pipeline and surrounding residential areas, Petronas Gas Bhd’s monitoring protocols, and whether an environmental impact assessment (EIA) report was prepared for the particular section of the gas line.

“They also did not address the environmental and public health impact of the 400 million standard cubic feet of gas released during the incident. This resulted in concentrations of an estimated 27,000 tons of carbon dioxide, equivalent to the annual emissions of over 7,000 vehicles, at the blast site.

“The sudden concentration of high-level greenhouse gases and combustion by-products is known to lead to severe respiratory issues and cognitive decline,” the NGOs said in a joint statement.

They said the proposed RCI should involve independent experts tasked with probing the root cause of the blaze, with their findings made public.

The RCI should also review existing gas line integrity measures, city plans and pipeline maps to ensure compliance with regulations, the NGOs added.

They also urged the Energy Commission to establish and enforce gas line safety standards, including buffer zones based on a potential impact radius formula.

“Ensure the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 and EIA guidelines include mandatory buffer zones and technical risk assessments for offsite populations,” the statement read.

MIRI: Zon utara Sarawak terus mencatatkan jumlah kes kebakaran terbuka tertinggi bagi tempoh 15 hingga 31 Mac 2026, dengan Miri merekodkan kes paling banyak berbanding kawasan lain.

Penguasa Kanan Bomba I Ismaidi Ismail berkata, Miri terus menjadi fokus utama kerana jumlah kes kebakaran terbuka yang tinggi.

"Dalam tempoh dua minggu ini, sebanyak 271 panggilan kebakaran terbuka diterima di Sarawak dengan Miri mencatatkan 86 kes.

"Sibu dan Mukah masing-masing mencatatkan 43 dan 41 kes, manakala Bintulu merekodkan 32 kes dan Kuching 21 kes. Kawasan lain seperti Betong (14), Kapit (6), Sarikei (5) serta Limbang (2) mencatatkan jumlah lebih rendah, " Katanya ketika dihubungi, di sini hari ini.

Ismaidi berkata, pihak bomba Miri sentiasa bersiap siaga dan mempergiatkan rondaan serta operasi pemadaman untuk memastikan kebakaran dapat dikawal dengan segera.

Beliau turut menasihati orang ramai tidak melakukan aktiviti pembakaran terbuka, khususnya di kawasan tanah gambut.

KUCHING (April 1): Fire incidents across Malaysia have risen again this year after declining in 2025, with 12,938 cases recorded nationwide as of March 31, said Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) Deputy Director-General (Operations) Dato Ir Ts Ahmad Izram Osman.

He said statistics over the past three years showed a fluctuating trend, but the number of cases had increased again this year.

“Based on statistics for the past three years — 2024, 2025 and 2026 — the trend is inconsistent, but we are seeing an increase again in 2026,” he told a press conference after gracing the Bomba Sarawak Excellent Service Award Ceremony at Dewan Majma Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah here.

Ahmad Izram said 12,938 cases recorded so far this year involved forest, bush and plantation fires, with bush fires remaining the most common type of incident, compared to 9,941 cases in 2025.

According to him, 13,182 bush fire cases were recorded in 2024, followed by 7,984 in 2025, before rising again to 11,147 cases recorded up to March this year.

“This year, within just three months, we have already recorded more than 12,000 cases involving forest, bush and plantation fires,” he said.

“Within just three months of 2026, we have already recorded more than 11,000 bush fire cases,” he said.

Several states recorded the highest number of bush fire incidents, with Kedah topping the list at 2,524 cases, followed by Johor (1,886), Melaka (1,010), Kelantan (937) and Perak (759).

For plantation and farm fires, Johor recorded the highest number with 359 cases, followed by Selangor (165), Perak (54), Kedah (29) and Kelantan (25).

Ahmad Izram said 1,047 forest fire incidents had also been recorded nationwide as of March this year, with Selangor reporting the highest number at 337 cases, followed by Kelantan (123), Penang (121), Sabah (113) and Kedah (102).

He attributed the rising number of fires to hot and dry weather conditions, which increase the risk of vegetation fires.

“We are seeing temperatures reaching up to 38 degrees Celsius in some areas, especially in the northern part of the peninsula, which increases the risk of bush and peatland fires,” he said.

He also noted that uncontrolled open burning, including slash-and-burn agricultural practices, remains a major challenge.

“Open burning that is not properly controlled can easily spread to nearby vegetation and plantations, especially during dry conditions,” he said.

To address the issue, Ahmad Izram said the department has mapped high-risk areas and intensified monitoring efforts, including increasing patrols at hotspot locations.

He said Bomba is also working with enforcement agencies such as the Department of Environment to curb illegal open burning.

“We do not have direct enforcement powers, but we assist enforcement agencies to ensure action can be taken according to the law,” he said.

Ahmad Izram added that the department is increasingly using technology such as drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras to detect fires, particularly in peatland areas.

“We cannot rely solely on manpower to fight fires. We are now using drones with thermal imaging to detect hotspots, especially in peat soil areas,” he said.

He said firefighting operations involving bush and peat fires can take several days, with personnel often working extended shifts to contain the blaze.

“In some cases, operations can take more than a week, and our personnel sometimes have to work 24-hour shifts to contain the fires,” he said.

In Sarawak, Ahmad Izram said several fire incidents had been reported recently, including in Tatau, Daro and Senadin, with firefighting teams continuing operations on site.