CHIANG MAI: A bright orange helicopter races over the jungle to dump water on a raging wildfire that is adding to the air pollution choking Thailand's northern tourist hub of Chiang Mai.

Chutaphorn Phuangchingngam, the only female captain in Thailand's national disaster prevention team, draws on two decades of flying to steer the Russian-made chopper through the thick smoke.

Forest fires are burning in several areas of northern Thailand, contributing to the annual spike in air pollution that comes with farmers burning stubble to prepare their land for the next crop.

Chiang Mai had the sixth worst air quality of any major city in the world on Thursday morning, according to monitor IQAir, and the city governor has warned residents against staying outdoors.

Chutaphorn told AFP the dense forest and hilly terrain made helicopters the best tool to fight the blazes. "We use (helicopters) to put out fire in areas that are difficult to reach, especially in the mountains," she said.

Chutaphorn and her six-member crew flew over Huai Bok reservoir, collecting 3,000 litres of water each time before heading two kilometres to the fire zone, spread across more than 1.6 hectares (four acres).

Northern Thailand is the latest area around the world to suffer significant wildfires, after South Korea – currently battling its biggest on record – Japan and California.

While the causes of forest fires can be complex, climate change can make them more likely by creating hotter, drier weather that leaves undergrowth more prone to catching light.

As well as damaging important forests, the fires are fuelling Thailand's anxieties about air pollution, which causes millions of people to need medical treatment each year.

Levels of PM2.5 pollutants – dangerous cancer-causing microparticles small enough to enter the bloodstream through the lungs – were almost 15 times the World Health Organisation's recommended limit in Chiang Mai on Thursday, according to IQAir.

The government banned crop burning early this year to try to improve air quality, with violators facing fines and legal action, but authorities said the measures have proven ineffective.

"There are still large numbers of farmers who continue to burn their fields," said Dusit Pongsapipat, head of the Department of Natural Disaster Prevention and Mitigation in Chiang Mai.

Danaipat Pokavanich, a clean-air advocate involved in drafting the Clean Air Act – a bill to curb pollution in Thailand – praised the firefighting efforts but called them a "temporary fix."

"The law alone won't stop farmers from burning," he said. He recommended offering financial incentives to encourage sustainable farming practices and investing in technology to reduce the need for burning.

Until then, Chatuphorn and her team remain ready to take to the skies to do their part to clean up the air by putting out forest fires.

"Flying a helicopter for disaster work is different from flying passengers," she said, citing limited visibility as a major challenge.

She remains committed to her childhood dream. "I just wanted to touch the cloud," she said, after the helicopter landed. "Though now all I feel is just the smoke."--AFP

JOHOR BAHRU: Banjir yang melanda 27 kawasan di bawah pentadbiran Majlis Bandaraya Johor Bahru (MBJB), disifatkan paling buruk dalam tempoh 30 tahun.

Datuk Bandar Johor Bahru, Datuk Mohd Haffiz Ahmad berkata, fenomena hujan lebat melebihi 150 milimiter (mm) sepanjang dua hari dan susulan air pasang setinggi 3.0 meter di sekitar Johor Bahru yang menyebabkan banjir luar jangka di beberapa kawasan.

"Sejumlah 27 lokasi di kawasan MBJB membabitkan kampung, taman perumahan dan kawasan Projek Perumahan Rakyat (PPR) seperti di Pandan, Kangkar Tebrau, Taman Desa Mutiara, Taman Tampoi Utama, Kampung Pasir, Kampung Seri Serdang, Kampung Melayu Pandan dan Kampung Belantik.

"Kejadian banjir terburuk dalam tempoh lebih 30 tahun terutamanya di sekitar Kampung Pasir dan Taman Tampoi Indah.

"Ini kerana limpahan dari air Sungai Skudai melepasi paras bahaya pada bacaan 1.5 meter," katanya ketika berucap dalam mesyuarat penuh MBJB di Menara MBJB di sini semalam.

Mohd Haffiz berkata, sebagai langkah serta merta susulan bencana berkenaan, MBJB menggerakkan jabatan dan bahagian barisan hadapan antaranya Skuad Kilat, Unit Tindakan Cepat, Unit Tindakan Landskap, Taskforce Kesihatan, Jabatan Penguatkuasaan dan Jabatan Kemasyarakatan.

"Skuad Kilat MBJB bersama jabatan lain digerakkan bagi memantau lokasi hotspot banjir bagi melaporkan status peningkatan paras air, memastikan laluan-laluan air tersekat berjalan lancar, mengalihkan pokok tumbang dan mengalihkan kenderaan yang tersekat susulan banjir.

"Bilik Gerakan Bencana Banjir MBJB juga dibuka di Johor Bahru Integrated Operations Centre (JBIOCC) pada 21 Mac lalu bagi menerima laporan dan aduan berkaitan banjir serta menyelaras bantuan pasca banjir kepada yang terjejas.

"Orang ramai boleh menghubungi Bilik Gerakan Bencana MBJB ini menerusi talian hotline MBJB di 1300-88-0146 atau 07-2198000.

"Meskipun keadaan kini beransur pulih, Bilik Gerakan Bencana MBJB ini akan terus dibuka bagi menyelaras tugas-tugas bantuan pasca banjir serta sebagai langkah persediaan menghadapi cuaca yang tidak menentu sepanjang musim peralihan monsun timur laut ini," katanya.

JOHOR BARU: More than 300 metric tonnes of solid waste – that’s the aftermath of Johor’s floods, with furniture making up the bulk of discarded items so far.

From damaged sofas to broken cabinets, flood-hit residents are tossing out their household belongings by the truckloads as the massive clean-up continues.

SWM Environment Sdn Bhd corporate general manager Mohd Norlisam Mohd Nordin said a huge amount was collected within the first five days of the operation which began on Friday.

“There were cupboards, cabinets, bed frames, sofas, chairs and mattresses. Over five days, some 50 to 60 metric tonnes of debris were collected each day,” he said yesterday.

Mohd Norlisam said the areas with high waste collection included Taman Tampoi Indah, PPR Desa Mutiara, Kampung Seri Jaya and Kampung Seri Serdang here.

“The clean-up involved about 200 workers. We also deployed 40 of our machinery such as roll-on roll-off (Roro) lorries and backhoe to assist. We are hoping to get everything done before Hari Raya,” he said.

Norlisam advised flood victims and volunteers to place the debris in front of their homes to ease collection.

“Two temporary transfer sites have been opened in Taman Tampoi Indah and Kampung Pasir for the collection of waste.

“This is to help with house-to-house cleaning. From these two temporary sites, the waste will be sent directly to the landfill,” he said.

Norlisam said the firm would provide free replacements of wheelie bins that were damaged or washed away by the floods, adding that online applications could be made at www.swmenvironment.com.

“If the bin is lost due to the floods, the applicant must file a police report and attach a copy of it with the online application,” he added.

State housing and local government committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jafni Md Shukor said the post-flood clean-up operation was proceeding smoothly, adding that the total amount of waste was expected to reach 500 tonnes.

“The state government has taken note of the logistical challenges and is working to improve coordination to ensure that the flood debris is managed more effectively,” he said in thanking all involved for their assistance.

Mohd Jafni called for close cooperation between residents and local authorities in reporting areas that still need attention.

JOHOR BARU: The recent floods that swept through Johor Baru were among the most severe the city has experienced in over three decades, says mayor Datuk Mohd Haffiz Ahmad.

Between March 19 and 20, torrential rainfall exceeding 150mm drenched several areas under the Johor Baru City Council (MBJB), including Kampung Pasir and Taman Tampoi Indah.

The relentless downpour caused Sungai Skudai to overflow beyond its danger level of 1.5m, submerging neighbourhoods.

“The intensity of this year’s rainfall was unprecedented, leading to flooding in areas that had never been affected before,” Mohd Haffiz said after a full council meeting yesterday.

“For instance, Taman Tampoi Indah had not seen flooding in nearly 30 years, yet it was affected this time.

“The situation was worsened by a high tide reaching three metres in Johor Baru, triggering unexpected floods in multiple locations.”

The disaster has underscored the urgent need for improved warning systems, especially for residents living near rivers and flood-prone zones, he said.

Mohd Haffiz noted that the system was first introduced last year at Sungai Chat, benefiting residents in Kampung Mohd Amin and other areas.

Given the latest catastrophe, he said expanding the system to more high-risk locations is necessary, enabling early evacuations before official directives are issued by rescue agencies.

In response to the floods, 11 temporary relief centres (PPS) were activated under MBJB’S jurisdiction, providing shelter to 2,232 victims from 806 families.

A total of 27 areas were affected, including villages, residential areas and public housing schemes in Pandan, Kangkar Tebrau, Taman Desa Mutiara, Taman Tampoi Utama, Kampung Pasir, Kampung Seri Serdang, Kampung Melayu Pandan and Kampung Belantik.

To manage relief efforts, Mohd Haffiz said MBJB deployed its frontline units, including Skuad Kilat, Quick Response Unit, Landscape Action Unit, Health Task Force, Enforcement Department and Community Affairs Department.

Although the situation has improved, Mohd Haffiz said the MBJB Disaster Operations Room remains open to oversee postflood assistance and prepare for unpredictable weather patterns during the ongoing northeast monsoon transition period.

“According to the Malaysian Meteorological Department, the monsoon transition phase is expected to last from March 25 until May 2025, bringing short but heavy rain and strong winds in the afternoons and evenings.

“These conditions increase the risk of flash floods, particularly in western and inland parts of Peninsular Malaysia,” he warned.

“Furthermore, Johor Baru is expected to experience a high tide phenomenon from March 29 to April 3, with water levels reaching up to 3.5m. I urge all relevant departments to remain on high alert.”

MBJB has also installed smart monitoring systems at two selected river basins – Sungai Chat and Parit Utama Abdul Samad – to track water levels and rainfall distribution.

“This system, accessible via mobile phones, allows MBJB to activate pumps earlier and take proactive measures to mitigate flooding,” Mohd Haffiz explained.

He also said Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi has announced a special flood relief fund to support affected residents.

Registered households at PPS will receive RM3,000 each while flood victims who did not register at PPS can appeal for aid at their respective district offices until the end of April.

Additionally, Ramadan and Aidilfitri bazaar traders at identified locations will receive RM500 in financial aid.