KUCHING (Jan 12): There are currently 3,111 flood victims being housed at 25 temporary evacuation centres (PPS) across Sarawak.

The State Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) said in its 8am update that Serian Division had the highest number of evacuees at 2,197 victims from 670 households at 17 PPS.

Most of the victims from the division are from Kampung Tanah Putih with 431 villagers from 125 households being placed at SK Tanah Putih PPS.

The second highest number of evacuees was recorded in Bintulu Division, with 609 from 214 households at three PPS.

This was followed by Sibu with 244 victims from 64 households placed at two PPS and Miri with 61 evacuees from 14 households at three PPS.

KOTA KINABALU (Jan 7): The Dewan Masyarakat Tun Said temporary evacuation centre (PPS) in Kota Belud was officially declared closed today, as the weather in the district has calmed down.

The Sabah Disaster Management Committee said 260 people from 90 families taking refuge at the PPS returned to their homes in Kampung Suang Punggur, Kampung Suang Kina, Kampung Marajah and Kampung Song-Song.

They were assisted by the Civil Defence Department, Fire and Rescue Department and other agencies.

Meanwhile, the number of flood evacuees taking shelter at seven PPS, namely Dewan Slagon and Dewan Residensi Prima Woodford Estate in Beaufort; Dewan Terbuka Labut 2, Rumah Kebudayaan Kampung Ponontomon, Rumah Kebudayaan Mandalom Lama, Rumah Kebudayaan Pantongan Saga and SK Saga in Tenom remain unchanged.

The PPS at Masjid Darau Ikhlas Kampung Batandok Lubak and Dewan Sri Dayang Shahbandar Padas Damit, both in Beaufort, are currently accommodating 37 people from 12 families and 11 people from five families respectively, while the number of fire victims taking shelter at Dewan Sri Keramat in Putatan is 44 people from 12 families.

KUALA LUMPUR: Hujan lebat, ribut petir dan angin kencang masih berpotensi berlaku dari semasa ke semasa di kawasan yang lazimnya tidak terjejas dengan Monsun Timur Laut, sekiranya wujud keadaan atmosfera yang kondusif bagi membolehkan pembentuan cuaca ekstrem itu.

Timbalan Ketua Pengarah Jabatan Meteorologi Malaysia (MetMalaysia), Ambun Dindang, berkata selain pantai timur Semenanjung, Sabah dan Sarawak yang lazimnya mengalami cuaca ekstrem ketika Monsun Timur Laut, pantai barat ketiga-tiga wilayah itu juga berpotensi dilanda cuaca seperti itu sekiranya keadaan atmosfera menggalakkan pembentukan ribut petir berkenaan.

Beliau berkata, antara faktor utama yang mempengaruhi kejadian cuaca ekstrem ialah arah dan kelajuan tiupan angin serta penumpuan angin di sesuatu kawasan.

"Sepanjang musim Monsun Timur Laut, perkara yang paling dibimbangkan ialah kehadiran luruan monsun kerana ia boleh menyebabkan hujan berterusan antara satu hingga tiga hari," katanya ketika ditemu bual menerusi program "Malaysia Petang Ini" terbitan BERNAMA TV, di sini.

Ambun berkata, hujan berterusan itu boleh berlaku pada intensiti sederhana hingga lebat dan berpotensi meningkatkan risiko bencana sekiranya keadaan berkenaan berlarutan.

Sebagai peringatan kepada orang ramai agar sentiasa bersiap siaga menghadapi bencana, beliau berkata kebiasaannya MetMalaysia akan mengeluarkan amaran ribut petir, hujan lebat dan angin kencang dengan tiga tahap keseriusan iaitu Waspada (Kuning), Buruk (Oren) dan Bahaya (Merah).

"Peringkat waspada menunjukkan potensi risiko cuaca ekstrem yang masih perlu diberi perhatian serius oleh masyarakat.

"Walaupun monsun dijangka berakhir pada Mac, kehadiran luruan monsun yang membawa hujan lebat itu boleh berlaku bila-bila masa dan memerlukan pemantauan berterusan," katanya.

Ambun turut memaklumkan MetMalaysia menjalankan pemantauan cuaca 24 jam dan akan mengeluarkan amaran awal sebaik sahaja tanda-tanda luruan monsun dikenal pasti.

Beliau menasihatkan orang ramai supaya sentiasa mendapatkan maklumat cuaca terkini daripada sumber rasmi MetMalaysia serta mematuhi arahan pihak berkuasa sekiranya diarahkan berpindah bagi mengurangkan risiko keselamatan semasa cuaca ekstrem.

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 8 — In Kuala Lumpur, where sudden downpours can overwhelm even the best flood mitigation infrastructures, timely alerts are just as critical in keeping the city and its residents safe from severe flooding.

While retaining walls, retention ponds and a state-of-the-art stormwater drain form KL’s first line of defence against floods, a city-wide warning system also complements its overall flood mitigation strategy.

This is where the Early Flood Warning System, managed by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS) Malaysia, comes into play.

To better understand how the system helps residents stay ahead of floods — and what the public should do when a siren sounds — Malay Mail reached out to JPS Malaysia recently.

Comprising 25 water level telemetry stations spread across metropolitan KL, the system uses real-time monitoring telemetry for round-the-clock, automated tracking of river water levels — overseen by the JPS’ Sungai Klang Basin Office (PLSK).

Each station is equipped with five standard components: an acoustic public address (PA) speaker, solar panels, a siren telemetry system, warning and danger sensors, and a flood gauge.

When required, each station’s public announcement speakers can also be remotely activated to broadcast additional instructions from the National Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre (PRABN).

A head start

The early flood warning system uses two distinct siren alerts — warning and danger — which are triggered when rising river levels reach their respective thresholds.

The siren is also designed to help residents gauge the severity of an emergency through distinct audio cues.

When a siren alert is activated, it is always accompanied by a voice announcement in Bahasa Malaysia to differentiate it from police or ambulance sirens.

Warning siren: continuous tone with a slow tempo and high frequency

This siren alert signals that water levels are rising and could flood low-lying areas along the rivers running through the city.

While the water has not yet reached a critical level requiring immediate evacuation, the public is advised to remain alert and start taking early precautions.

Announcement script: Amaran!! Air sungai telah melebihi aras amaran. Dinasihatkan bersiap sedia untuk berpindah. (Warning!! River water has exceeded the warning level. Residents are advised to prepare for evacuation)

Here are the precautionary steps once this siren activates:

• Move out: Halt all outdoor activities near a river and head towards a safe location.
• Remain alert: Know the flood risk level in your area, monitor official announcements (PublicInfoBanjir app, publicinfobanjir.water.gov.my and the JPS’ official Facebook page) and take every early warning seriously.
• Be prepared: Pack important documents (identity cards, land titles, birth certificates etc.) in a waterproof bag, along with medicines and personal essentials for possible evacuation.

Danger siren: continuous tone with a fast tempo and very high frequency

This siren alert is the highest-level emergency signal, indicating that a flood is imminent or already occurring in low-lying areas, which is no longer safe. Nearby residents must evacuate immediately.

Announcement script: Bahaya!!! Air sungai telah melebihi aras bahaya. Dinasihatkan untuk segera berpindah. (Danger!! River water has exceeded the danger level. Residents are advised to evacuate immediately)

Here are the precautionary steps once this siren activates:

• Act immediately: Do not wait. Direct your family to leave the house and inform nearby neighbours so they can act as well.
• Turn off main switches: Switch off electricity and gas before leaving to prevent short circuits or fires.
• Evacuate: Follow authorities’ instructions to move to a Temporary Evacuation Centre (PPS) or to designated higher ground.