PORTAL RASMI
JABATAN PERDANA MENTERI
AGENSI PENGURUSAN BENCANA NEGARA
JABATAN PERDANA MENTERI
AGENSI PENGURUSAN BENCANA NEGARA
CEBU (Philippines), Nov 4 — At least 26 people have been killed and hundreds of thousands displaced as rains driven by Typhoon Kalmaegi flooded swathes of the central Philippines today.
Entire towns on the island of Cebu have been inundated, while cars, trucks and even massive shipping containers could be seen swept along by muddy floodwaters in videos verified by AFP.
In Cebu alone, 21 people were now confirmed dead, civil defence deputy administrator Rafaelito Alejandro told AFP by phone, giving the storm’s current death toll as 26.
“Based on information that we have, most of them died from drowning,” he said.
In the 24 hours before Kalmaegi’s landfall, the area around provincial capital Cebu City was deluged with 183 millimetres (seven inches) of rain, well over its 131-millimetre monthly average, state weather specialist Charmagne Varilla told AFP.
“The situation in Cebu is really unprecedented,” provincial governor Pamela Baricuatro said in a Tuesday Facebook post.
“We were expecting the winds to be the dangerous part, but... the water is what’s truly putting our people at risk,” she said. “The floodwaters are just devastating.”
Local disaster official Ethel Minoza told AFP the bodies of two children had been recovered in Cebu City, where rescuers were still attempting to reach residents trapped by floodwaters.
Deaths in other provinces included an elderly resident who drowned in an upper floor of their home in Leyte province and a man struck by a falling tree in Bohol.
Don del Rosario, 28, was among those in Cebu City who sought refuge on an upper floor as the storm raged. “The water rose so fast,” he said. “By 4am, it was already uncontrollable—people couldn’t get out (of their houses).”
“I’ve been here for 28 years, and this is by far the worst we’ve experienced.”
Scientists warn that storms are becoming more powerful due to human-driven climate change. Warmer oceans allow typhoons to strengthen rapidly, and a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, meaning heavier rainfall.
Hundreds still living in tent cities after a 6.9-magnitude quake rocked the island in late September were “forcibly evacuated for their own safety”, Cebu information officer Rhon Ramos told AFP by phone.
In total, nearly 400,000 people were pre-emptively moved from the typhoon’s path, Alejandro, the civil defence officer, said earlier at a Tuesday news briefing.
Military helicopter crash
Late Tuesday afternoon, the Philippine military confirmed that a helicopter deployed to assist relief efforts had crashed on northern Mindanao island.
The Super Huey helicopter went down while en route to the coastal city of Butuan “in support of relief operations” related to the powerful storm, Eastern Mindanao Command said in a statement, adding search and recovery operations were underway.
A spokesperson declined to say if there were any survivors. The typhoon is now moving westwards through the Visayan island chain, with winds of 130 kilometres (81 miles) per hour and gusts of 180 kph toppling trees and downing power lines.
The Philippines is hit by an average of 20 storms and typhoons each year, routinely striking disaster-prone areas where millions live in poverty.
With Kalmaegi, the archipelagic country has already reached that average, weather specialist Varilla told AFP, adding at least “three to five more” storms could be expected by December’s end.
The Philippines was hit by two major storms in September, including Super Typhoon Ragasa, which tore the roofs off buildings on its way to killing 14 people in nearby Taiwan. — AFP
PUTRAJAYA, 4 Nov: Kementerian Kerja Raya (KKR) memperkukuh kesiapsiagaan menghadapi Monsun Timur Laut (MTL) dengan memastikan segala infrastruktur kritikal berada dalam keadaan baik bagi mengurangkan impak kerosakan akibat bencana alam.
Menterinya, Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi berkata Bilik Gerakan Bencana telah diaktifkan bagi memantau serta menyelaras tindakan segera di lokasi terjejas di seluruh negara.
“Apabila MTL melanda, infrastruktur kita sering terkesan yang melibatkan jalan, jambatan dan cerun.
“Menerusi peruntukan tambahan, kita dapat melaksanakan lebih banyak program penambahbaikan bagi memastikan keselamatan dan ketahanan struktur di seluruh negara,” katanya.
Beliau berkata demikian pada sidang media selepas hadir Program Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR) Greenday 2025, di sini, hari ini.
Tambah Alexander Nanta, peruntukan diterima akan digunakan untuk kerja-kerja baik pulih dan pencegahan awal, termasuk pemantauan kawasan berisiko tinggi agar tidak berlaku kerosakan serius seperti hakisan dan runtuhan cerun.
Berkenaan JKR Green Day 2025 bertemakan yang bertemakan Green Generation: Empowering Change, beliau berkata perlaksanaanya sebagai inisiatif memperkukuh usaha kelestarian infrastruktur negara.
“dalam konteks pembangunan negara, infrastruktur merupakan tunjang utama kemajuan.
“Namun pembangunan pesat perlu diseimbangkan dengan tanggungjawab terhadap pemeliharaan alam sekitar.
“Di sinilah terletaknya peranan penting JKR Malaysia sebagai agensi teknikal kerajaan yang menerajui pembinaan infrastruktur hijau dan berdaya tahan,” katanya ketika berucap pada majlis itu.- TVS
Sg Johor pollution: 94% of water supply restored, full recovery expected soon says exco
- Admin UKK
- Berita
JOHOR BARU: After five days of water disruptions caused by pollution in Sungai Johor, 94% of water supply has been restored to over 200,000 account holders, says state executive councillor Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh.
The Johor works, transportation, infrastructure and communications committee chairman said as of 5pm on Tuesday (Nov 4), supply to 201,554 out of 214,154 affected accounts had resumed since the incident began last Friday (Oct 31).
"About 12,600 accounts are still waiting for stable water supply. "At the moment, the Semangar water treatment plant has fully recovered while the Sungai Johor water treatment plant is still undergoing phased recovery, affecting areas including Tebrau, Skudai, Tiram and Gelang Patah," he said in a statement on Tuesday (Nov 4) evening.
"To assist those affected, 31 water tankers with a total capacity of 613 cubic metres have been deployed daily to affected areas, each making between five and six trips a day.
"Assistance was also sent from Melaka and Negri Sembilan. The sudden demand and panic water storage caused intermittent supply in some areas," he added.
Mohamad Fazli acknowledged the hardship faced by residents, adding that full recovery is expected within the next eight to 12 hours, depending on stabilisation of pressure and reservoir levels.
Initial investigations found the incident was triggered by a domestic sand mining operator after soil movement led to the collapse of the sixth sand washing pond in Kota Tinggi, contaminating Sungai Johor.
This resulted in turbidity levels spiking dramatically to 37,400 Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU), far above the normal 400 NTU.
Following this, the Johor Land and Mines Office issued an immediate stop-work order and the company’s mineral permit was temporarily suspended to allow investigations, added Mohamad Fazli.
The probe is being carried out under Section 7A(1)(c) of the Water Enactment 1921 (Amendment 2014) and the Environmental Quality Act 1974.
"The state government has ordered the company to bear all cleanup and recovery costs, with further action to follow if laws were breached.
"The state government, led by Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, views the matter seriously and has prioritised swift recovery and transparent investigation.
"While the company involved is local, any action will be fair and firm, in the interest of the environment and the people of Johor," he said, adding that Onn Hafiz is also being updated with regular status reports.
The disruption has impacted around one million consumers across Johor Baru, Kota Tinggi, Kulai and Pontian since taps ran dry last Friday (Oct 31).
Consumers can contact Ranhill SAJ at 1800-88-7474, email Alamat emel ini dilindungi dari Spambot. Anda perlu hidupkan JavaScript untuk melihatnya., or SMS ATRanhillSAJAduan to 63001 for updates.
JOHOR BAHRU – Bantuan luar dari Melaka dan Negeri Sembilan turut digerakkan bagi memastikan bekalan air alternatif dapat disalurkan secara berterusan sekali gus mengurangkan kesulitan pemegang akaun di negeri ini yang terjejas susulan pencemaran Sungai Johor sejak Jumaat lalu.
Pengerusi Jawatankuasa Kerja Raya, Pengangkutan, Infrastruktur dan Komunikasi Johor, Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh berkata, sebanyak 31 lori air dengan jumlah kapasiti keseluruhan 613 meter padu telah digerakkan setiap hari bagi penghantaran air bersih ke kawasan terjejas.
Menurutnya, faktor penggunaan mendadak serta simpanan panik pengguna turut menjejaskan paras tangki utama di beberapa lokasi, menyebabkan bekalan tidak selanjar (intermittent supply). “Loji Rawatan Air (LRA) Semangar telah pulih sepenuhnya, manakala LRA Sungai Johor masih dalam proses pemulihan berperingkat yang menjejaskan baki lebih 12,000 akaun di beberapa kawasan seperti Tebrau, Skudai, Tiram dan Gelang Patah,” katanya dalam kenyataan.
Mohammad Fazli berkata, aktiviti perlombongan yang menjadi punca pencemaran Sungai Johor di sini diarahkan untuk dihentikan serta merta oleh Pejabat Tanah dan Galian (PTG) Johor.
Katanya, kerajaan negeri juga mengarahkan syarikat terlibat supaya menanggung kos kerja pemulihan serta langkah pembersihan yang diperlukan dan akan dikenakan tindakan kompaun mengikut enakmen yang wajar.-KOSMO! ONLINE
KUALA LUMPUR: Several initiatives are underway to strengthen Malaysia’s earthquake monitoring capabilities, says the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry.
“Under the 13th Malaysia Plan Rolling Plan 1 (13MP RP1), the Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) will implement the Phase 2 Earthquake and Tsunami Services Empowerment Project, which involves strengthening 12 seismic stations nationwide, constructing two new seismic stations in Segamat and Muar, Johor, and upgrading four seismic stations in Johor,” the ministry said in a parliamentary written reply dated Nov 4.
MetMalaysia is also enhancing the capacity of its SeisComP Data Detection and Processing System, with emphasis on the local earthquake detection module, so that small-scale earthquakes can be detected more quickly and accurately,” it added.
The Department of Minerals and Geoscience Malaysia (JMG), is monitoring 53 Fault Movement Benchmark Points (PAPS), which have been erected along fault areas throughout the country. This will serve as a reference for updating the Seismic Hazard Map.
“The Seismic Hazard Map published by JMG in 2017 has been used as an input for these building design standards. From a technical perspective, as the map is now more than seven years old, it should be reviewed to ensure that engineering standards and development guidelines remain aligned with the latest risk information,” it added.
The Seismic Hazard Map is also being updated continuously and periodically in collaboration with government agencies such as MetMalaysia, the Public Works Department, Department of Standards Malaysia and academia, to serve as a reference for safe national development.
“In addition, the application of the Seismic Hazard Map is also utilised by JMG when providing technical reviews for proposed developments located in areas along active faults that are exposed to seismic hazard risks resulting from earthquakes,” it said.
The ministry said the Department of Standards Malaysia (JSM) has also developed a Malaysian Standard (MS) related to earthquake-resistant building design.
“This standard provides detailed guidelines for the structural design of buildings to withstand earthquake tremors. The MS EN 1998-1 document has been referenced in the Uniform Building By-Laws (UBBL) 1984 (Amendment 2021). However, its enforcement is subject to the respective state governments,” it said.
The ministry was responding to a question by Kamal Ashaari(PN-Kuala Krau) on actions taken in preparation for the increasing frequency of earthquakes, including aspects of preparedness, the need for new building standards, and the measures that have been implemented.