KUALA LUMPUR: Setakat tengah malam tadi, seramai 581 mangsa daripada 177 keluarga masih berada di 18 pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS) di enam negeri.

Terengganu catat jumlah mangsa tertinggi, 292 orang daripada 90 keluarga dari dua daerah - Kemaman dan Hulu Terengganu yang berlindung di 10 PPS.

Selain Terengganu, PPS masih dibuka di Kelantan, Sabah, Selangor, Sarawak dan Pahang. Sementara itu, paras air di beberapa sungai di lima negeri dikesan melebihi tahap bahaya, sekitar jam 7 pagi ini.

Di Terengganu, iaitu di Sungai Besut, Jambatan Keruak, Besut pula, aras air melebihi tahap bahaya 0.16m dan trend menaik dilaporkan.

Di Kelantan, Sungai Lebir di Kampung Tualang (F1), Kuala Krai juga melebihi tahap bahaya pada 0.61m, dengan trend menaik.

Di Pahang, tiga sungai iaitu di Belat di Sri Damai (F2) dan Kenau di Sg Rimau (F2), Kuantan serta Jamb Chegar Perah (F1), Lipis berada pada tahap bahaya, sekitar jam 7.15 pagi tadi.

Di Selangor, aras air P/A Pandamaran di Klang sudah melebihi tahap bahaya pada 0.84 meter dan setakat jam 7.30 pagi ini, ia tidak menunjukkan trend perubahan.

Di Sarawak, aras air di Long Teru, Miri melebihi tahap bahaya pada 0.52 m (trend menaik) manakala di Marudi, Miri, situasi sama berlaku dengan aras air sebanyak 0.33 m (trend menurun).

Sungai-sungai lain di lima negeri itu juga turut dilaporkan melebihi tahap amaran dan waspada iaitu Sungai Buloh di Parit Mahang, Kuala Selangor (waspada); Sungai Kemaman di Rumah Pam Paya Paman, Kemaman (amaran); Sungai Tersat di Kampung Sekayu (F1), Hulu Terengganu (amaran); Sungai Nerus di Kampung Bukit (F1), Setiu (waspada); Sungai Dungun di Jambatan Jerangau, Dungun (waspada); Sungai Tebak di Jambatan Tebak, Kemaman (waspada) dan Sungai Nerus di Kampung Bukit, Setiu (waspada).

Sungai Kelantan di Kuala Krai (F1), Kuala Krai (amaran); Sungai Golok di Rantau Panjang (F1), Pasir Mas (amaran); Galas di Limau Kasturi (F1), Gua Musang (waspada); Sungai Kelantan di Kusial (F1), Tanah Merah (waspada); Sungai Galas di Kampung Lembaga (F1), Gua Musang (waspada); Sungai Galas di Chegar Lapan, Kuala Krai (waspada); Sungai Kelantan di Kusial Baru (F1), Tanah Merah (waspada).

Sungai Tembeling di Kampung Merting (F1), Jerantut (amaran); Sungai Soi di Jln. Pekan-Kuantan (N), Kuantan (amaran); Pahang di Kuala Tembeling, Jerantut (waspada); Sungai Kuantan di Pasir Kemudi, Kuantan (waspada); Sungai Telemong di Telemong (F1), Bentong (waspada); Lepar di Jamb. Gelugor (F1), Kuantan (waspada); Sungai Kuantan di Bukit Kenau, Kuantan (waspada); Tembeling di Kuala Tahan, Jerantut (waspada).

KUALA TERENGGANU – Mangsa banjir Terengganu meningkat kepada 470 mangsa daripada 141 keluarga di dua daerah iaitu Hulu Terengganu dan Kemaman.

Jurucakap Sekretariat Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Bencana Negeri Terengganu (JPBNT) berkata, kesemua mangsa kini berada di 10 pusat pemindahan sementara (PPS) di kedua-dua daerah berkenaan.

“Hulu Terengganu mempunyai 266 mangsa daripada 86 keluarga yang kini menghuni empat PPS.

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 16 — The Communication Ministry remains on high alert ahead of the possibility of major flooding early next year, to ensure communication services and network connectivity are uninterrupted, said its minister, Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.

He said the ministry’s main focus is to ensure the rapid restoration of communication networks and connectivity in affected areas, while also providing assistance to those impacted.

Fahmi said the major floods that hit several districts in Kelantan earlier this year had provided important lessons, prompting stronger preparation, particularly through closer cooperation with telecommunications companies and providers of communication tower infrastructure.

“During the major floods earlier this year, many (communication) towers were badly affected, with bridges washed away and even (underground) cables damaged. That is why I have instructed teams to remain on high alert and be fully prepared,” he said.

He was speaking in an interview with the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama), led by its editor-in-chief Arul Rajoo Duraj Raj, acting deputy editor-in-chief of News Services Mohd Shukri Ishak and executive editor of Economic News Service M. Saraswathi.

Fahmi said close coordination with telecommunications companies would allow for prompt restoration of affected communication towers once power supply and fibre connections are restored.

“Alhamdulillah, our preparedness is stronger this year, especially in coordinating with telcos to ensure flood-affected towers can be restored swiftly, subject to the availability of electricity and fibre connections.

“Secondly, temporary relief centres will be equipped with WiFi and, if necessary, Starlink. This time, team deployment is much faster, and telcos are playing a crucial role in resolving these issues,” he said.

Fahmi also said the ministry and relevant agencies have implemented site hardening measures at communication towers, including raising the structures of Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) distribution boards to prevent damage from rising water levels.

“I recently visited a tower site in Moyog, Sabah. During recent floods, water levels rose up to shoulder height, submerging the infrastructure and TNB distribution boards. These boards have now been raised efficiently and swiftly, using simple technology while keeping costs under control. We are confident such issues will not happen again,” he said.

Meanwhile, Fahmi said his ministry and its agencies remain on standby to provide welfare assistance, including through the establishment of the MADANI Ehsan Squad and a disaster fund managed by the ministry.

On the welfare of media practitioners, he said the Tabung Kasih @HAWANA under the ministry is sufficient to assist journalists or their families affected by disasters.

“In terms of the fund, I believe we are well-prepared and have sufficient resources to assist any affected families,” he said.

Fahmi said the ministry has identified several individuals affected by the recent floods, but the full count is still being updated and will be finalised.

He said the ministry had also received donations of relief items and has requested that their distribution be carried out in the first quarter of next year, with plans to begin a relief delivery tour as early as January. — Bernama

KOTA BHARU, Dec 16 — The Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) has issued a flood warning for several districts in Kelantan following forecasts of continuous heavy rain and river water levels expected to rise above danger levels.

In a statement yesterday, the National Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (PRABN) said flooding is expected to occur from tomorrow (December 16) until Friday, following the continuous rain alert (bad weather level) issued by the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) yesterday.

The districts involved are Gua Musang, Jeli, Kuala Krai, Tanah Merah and Pasir Mas, affecting low-lying areas within a five-kilometre radius of the Kelantan River Basin and Sungai Golok.

In Gua Musang, areas at risk include Kampung Limau Kasturi, Kampung Batu Papan, Kesedar Sungai Terah, Kampung Baru Hilir and Hulu, Kampung Kundor, Kampung Nerang, KTM squatter settlements and Simpang Empat Gua Musang.

In Jeli, areas expected to be affected include Kampung Batu Melintang, Kampung Kalai, Kampung Jeli Dalam and Lama, Kampung Layat, Pekan Jeli Lama, as well as Kampung Ayer Lanas, Kampung Legeh and Kampung Sungai Satan.

Meanwhile, in Kuala Krai, low-lying areas around Aur Duri, Kampung Batu Lada, Kampung Bekok, Kampung Guchil, Kampung Kuala Nal, Kampung Laloh, Kampung Manjor, Kampung Gajah and Manik Urai are also on the warning list.

The same warning applies to the Tanah Merah district, including Tanah Merah town area, Kampung Belimbing, Taman Kiara, Kampung Kerilla, Kampung Chekok Ipoh, Kampung Jerangau, as well as areas along Sungai Golok such as Kampung Bendang Besar, Kampung Nibong and Kampung Renab.

In Pasir Mas, areas at risk include Kampung Kubang Binjal, Kampung Kubang Pak Hitam, Kampung Bendang Guchil, Kampung Kelawar, Kampung Bakong, Kampung Siput, Jalan KESBAN, Kampung Banggol Kong, Pekan Rantau Panjang and the surrounding areas.

PRABN said flooding may occur earlier or later than forecasted, and the public, especially residents in areas at risk, are advised to remain vigilant and comply with instructions from the authorities and disaster management agencies. — Bernama