GERIK: The Kenderong Permanent Forest Reserve has become the first location in Peninsular Malaysia to feature a helipad and tube wells for improved forest fire management.

Mohamad Farhan Sukiman, assistant director of the Perak Forestry Department, said the project provides an alternative water source beyond river supplies for firefighting.

The RM400,000 project was built on a 0.2-hectare former logging site between August and September last year.

“The Department of Minerals and Geoscience provided technical expertise for the tube wells, while our department managed site operations,“ said Mohamad Farhan.

This initiative showcases inter-agency collaboration in disaster management and environmental protection.

The project involved cooperation between federal and state agencies under a 2023–2025 firefighting infrastructure programme.

Shazlean Mohd Hanafiah of Perak’s Fire and Rescue Department highlighted how tube wells solve water access challenges in remote areas.

Previously, crews relied on distant fire hydrants or six-hour uphill treks to reach blazes.

Helicopters now transport personnel and equipment using the new helipad, significantly improving response times.

The site’s existing water sources, including lakes and mines, complement the new infrastructure for aerial firefighting. – Bernama

TAIPING: About 500 residents in the Taman Tekkah Permai and Taman Tekkah Jaya areas here have been affected by black dust, believed to have been caused by industrial operations over the past week.

Perak Department of Environment (DOE) director Datuk Dr Mohammad Ezanni Mat Salleh said they received complaints about black dust pollution from residents in the area on Aug 4.

He said the DOE had conducted air monitoring using the Air Quality Monitoring Device (GRIMM) and Portable Multigas Analyser (CEREX) at two locations in the area from Aug 6 until today.

"Observations at the monitoring sites found no smell, smoke, dust, or open burning during the period.

"The analysis of air monitoring data collected from August 6 to 11 found only two dominant gas readings recorded, namely acetylene and hydrogen cyanide," he said at a press conference held at the Aulong Assemblyman Service Centre here today.

Mohammad Ezanni said the department had also conducted monitoring using drones in areas within a five-kilometre radius of the location that had the potential to cause pollution.

"The DOE is also conducting enforcement operations on a factory suspected of causing black dust pollution in the Kamunting Industrial Area and is still awaiting the results of the chemical analysis report from the Chemistry Department, which are expected soon," he said.

Mohammad Ezanni said strict enforcement action would be taken against any premises found to be in breach of the Environmental Quality Act 1974 (Amendment) 2024 for causing black dust pollution.

Meanwhile, Kampung Assam Kumbang village head Sharudin Ahmad Sani said residents had to close their windows during windy conditions, as large amounts of black dust would enter their homes.

"Excessive black dust causes a foul smell but disappears when it rains," he said.

–Bernama

MGPerak : Pesawah Terjejas Kemarau : Ambil Gambar Kawasan, Mohon Bantuan Bencana Tanaman Padi

GENEVA: Sepanyol menghadapi musim kebakaran hutan terburuk dalam beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini.

Lebih 39,000 hektar tanah telah musnah akibat kebakaran sejak awal tahun ini.

Kementerian Peralihan Ekologi Sepanyol melaporkan angka ini 9 peratus lebih tinggi berbanding tempoh sama tahun lalu.

Namun, ia masih 37 peratus lebih rendah daripada purata 10 tahun iaitu 62,235 hektar.

Kebanyakan kebakaran berlaku di barat laut negara, diikuti kawasan Mediterranean dan pedalaman.

Di Castilla dan Leon, 10 kebakaran aktif masih membakar, termasuk di Zamora yang musnahkan 3,500 hektar.

Di Leon, kebakaran di Yeres mengancam Las Medulas, tapak Warisan Dunia UNESCO.

Lebih 800 orang dipindahkan atau diarahkan berkurung akibat kebakaran di kawasan tersebut.

Di Tarifa, Cadiz, kira-kira 1,500 orang dipindahkan dan 5,000 kenderaan dialihkan dari tapak perkhemahan.

Di Extremadura, kebakaran di Las Hurdes musnahkan 3,000 hektar dan paksa 200 penduduk berpindah.

Pada bulan Julai sahaja, 26,000 hektar tanah dilaporkan terbakar di seluruh Sepanyol.

Gelombang haba melampau dengan suhu melebihi 40°C dikenal pasti sebagai punca utama kebakaran.

Keadaan kering, angin kencang, dan kelembapan rendah memburukkan lagi risiko kebakaran.

Pihak berkuasa memberi amaran risiko kebakaran tinggi hingga melampau masih berterusan di banyak kawasan.

Kebakaran yang kelihatan terkawal boleh kembali marak jika keadaan cuaca bertambah buruk. - Bernama, Anadolu