PORTAL RASMI
JABATAN PERDANA MENTERI
AGENSI PENGURUSAN BENCANA NEGARA
JABATAN PERDANA MENTERI
AGENSI PENGURUSAN BENCANA NEGARA
KUANTAN: A massive fire at a coconut plantation near the Kuantan-Sungai Ular bypass here has been raging for more than 10 days, resulting in a devastating impact on fruit trees and significantly reducing air quality in the vicinity.
The fire, which broke out on Feb 22, has, to date, consumed an area measuring a total of 130ha. Of these, the fire in 91ha has been extinguished.
Battling relentless heat and strong winds, firefighters have been working tirelessly to contain the flames that continue to spread at alarming rates. The scorching heat poses a tough challenge for the 70-odd personnel, especially while observing Ramadan.
The media were yesterday transported by four-wheel-drive vehicles provided by the Fire and Rescue Department to the site, about 5km from the operations centre in Gebeng.
The narrow and bumpy road covered with red soil made the ride arduous and some sections were covered with thick smoke. This resulted in zero visibility conditions, forcing the driver to carefully navigate the vehicle to prevent any untoward incident.
Firefighters drenched in sweat were seen spraying water, pumped from a nearby trench, onto the ground to ensure the soil burning beneath the peat surface is properly doused as they try to control the flames from spreading.
The whirring sound from the water pumps fill the area, once covered with lush green coconut trees, as firemen carefully pull the lengthy rubber hoses to ensure it does not come into contact with the burning embers on the ground.
State Fire and Rescue Department director Mohd Razam Taja Rahim said besides firefighters on the ground, the department had deployed a MI-17 helicopter which made 30 trips to drop water buckets holding 1,200l of water each time it took to the skies.
“Besides water bombing, we have utilised the total flooding technique by releasing water from a tanker into the burning site. Once the water fills the trenches, we use the pumps to draw water to put out the blaze in the vicinity.
“Three backhoes and two excavators are used to dig trenches to serve as a fire break to help prevent the flames from spreading.
“We have also applied the direct attack (extinguishing) techniques when there are fresh burning sites.”
Razam said continuous hot weather and strong winds had made their job challenging and hampered efforts to douse the fire.
“We nearly put out the fire on Friday, but windy conditions over the weekend and the constant changing of wind direction at night triggered more areas to be affected and the situation prolonged.
“Besides firemen, the Drainage and Irrigation Department, Public Works Department and Environment Department (DoE) are assisting at the site and we hope to completely douse the fire by the end of this week,” he said.
State DoE director Wandi Yadzid Yaakob said the department had met a representative from the plantation to determine the cause of the fire.
“The fire was not caused by open burning activities. We are working closely with the Fire and Rescue Department to identify the cause of the fire,” he said.
Page 1 pic: An aerial view of the massive fire at a coconut plantation near the KuantanSungai Ular bypass in Balok Baru yesterday.
PUTRAJAYA: Indeks Pencemaran Udara (IPU) di Balok Baru, Kuantan direkodkan pada tahap 250 iaitu sangat tidak sihat setakat 4 petang tadi.
Ketua Pengarah Alam Sekitar, Datuk Wan Abdul Latiff Wan Jaffar berkata keadaan itu disebabkan oleh kebakaran tanah gambut di sebuah ladang kelapa di Cherating, Kuantan.
Beliau berkata, Jabatan Alam Sekitar (JAS) telah mengeluarkan Nota Pemberitahuan Amaran 3A & 3B kepada Pusat Kawalan Bencana Negara (NDCC) untuk tindakan hebahan Notis Kesiapsiagaan Operasi Bencana bagi mengaktifkan Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Bencana Peringkat Daerah/Negeri dan mengambil tindak balas berdasarkan Pelan Tindakan Jerebu Kebangsaan.
"JAS telah meningkatkan tindakan penguatkuasaan dan aktiviti pemantauan melalui darat dan udara dengan menggunakan dron serta memantau bacaan IPU dari semasa ke semasa.
"Koordinasi di antara agensi berkaitan bagi merancang kerja-kerja pemadaman dan kawalan kebakaran turut telah diadakan," katanya dalam kenyataan malam ini.
Sementara itu, Wan Abdul Latiff berkata, berdasarkan Peta Jerebu Serantau yang dikeluarkan oleh Pusat Meteorologi Khas ASEAN, selatan Asia Tenggara hari ini mengalami cuaca mendung di kebanyakan bahagian kecuali Semenanjung Malaysia dan utara Sumatera, Indonesia.
Beliau berkata, beberapa kawasan panas terpencil dikesan di Semenanjung dan tengah Sumatera dengan kepulan asap setempat diperhatikan berpunca daripada titik panas yang dikesan di kawasan pantai timur Semenanjung.
Semua pemilik tanah turut dinasihatkan supaya memantau secara rapi kawasan yang mudah dan sering terbakar untuk mengelakkan kejadian pembakaran terbuka.
Orang ramai juga diminta bekerjasama untuk memadam kebakaran kecil dan melaporkan kes pembakaran terbuka atau kebakaran kepada Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat di talian 999 dan JAS di talian bebas tol 1-800-88-2727.
PETALING JAYA – Jabatan Meteorologi (MetMalaysia) menjangkakan hujan dalam tempoh yang pendek di beberapa kawasan di Pantai Barat Semenanjung seperti Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya dan Melaka pada petang ini.
Menerusi laporan cuaca di YouTube, MetMalaysia berkata, keadaan cuaca di empat negeri terlibat dalam suasana mendung.
“Kebarangkalian untuk berlaku hujan (sebelah petang) itu ada, kebanyakan tempat dalam keadaan agak mendung disertai dengan hujan sekejap-sekejap.
“Bagaimanapun ia akan beransur reda sedikit masa lagi,” katanya. Tambah MetMalaysia, keadaan kurang hujan di kawasan Semenanjung boleh berlarutan sehingga ke malam nanti.
Sementara itu, dalam laporan cuaca berlainan, MetMalaysia memaklumkan ribut petir, hujan lebat dan angin kencang dijangka melanda negeri Sarawak membabitkan bahagian Sarikei (Meradong), Sibu, Mukah (Tanjung Manis dan Daro), Kapit (Kapit dan Belaga), Bintulu (Tatau), Miri (Telang Usan) dan Limbang.
“Selain itu, di Sabah pula, keadaan sama tertumpu sekitar Pedalaman (Sipitang, Tenom dan Beaufort) sehingga pukul 7 malam ini,” lapor MetMalaysia. – KOSMO! ONLINE
KLANG Royal City Council (MBDK) has allocated RM182mil for flood mitigation measures.
Mayor Datuk Abd Hamid Hussain said flood mitigation works costing an estimated RM182mil under the Klang Sustainable Stormwater Plan (KLASS) would be carried out in stages from this year to 2030 across Klang as a proactive measure.
“For 2025, we have 23 flood mitigation projects.
“We have completed 54 projects amounting to RM38mil, where drain widening has been carried out,” he said at the city council’s full board meeting.
Abd Hamid added that the remaining RM144mil would be used for projects under KLASS. “Most of these projects are a continuation of flood mitigation works done from 2021 until 2024.
“It demonstrates MBDK’s commitment to speed up efforts to resolve the matter in affected neighbourhoods,” he said.
MBDK had completed nine projects in 2021, 17 in 2022, 11 in 2023 and another 17 last year. He added that flood mitigation continued to be the city council’s top priority.
“Apart from flood mitigation works, we are looking into non-structural solutions in flood management such as vulnerable mapping, which identifies the likelihood of floods coinciding with high rainfall or high tide.”
Abd Hamid added that the city council’s Engineering Department was mapping areas that would see flood mitigation works in areas such as Sungai Kapar Indah, Jalan Pekan Baru 26 off Jalan Meru, Bandar Sentosa, Bandar Puteri, Bandar Putera, Taman Klang Utama, Taman Teluk Pulai, Taman Setia, Taman Gembira, Taman Palm Grove, Taman Chi Liung and Taman Maznah.
Separately, Abd Hamid said MBDK had allocated 356 stalls for Bazaar Aidilfitri known for items such as clothes, gifts, home decor, artificial flowers, plants and costume jewellery at Jalan Taiping.
Bazaar Aidilfitri which also features buskers will operate from March 7 to 30. “Most of the lots have been taken up. “Only 31 lots in two locations are still available at Jalan Taman and Jalan Melayu.
“MBDK’s Licensing Department will reopen the balloting for the remaining lots and youths are encouraged to take the opportunity to trade during the Ramadan month,” he said.
Abd Hamid said the city council allocated 22 locations, with 1,369 trading lots for Bazaar Juadah, which sells mainly food for the break of fast. Previously, Bazaar Juadah was held in 45 areas, with 1,890 lots.
He said the five popular Bazaar Juadah locations under MBDK were Taman Sri Andalas, Simpang Empat, Jalan Raja Mokhtar in Kapar, Jalan Paip in Meru and Jalan Rantau Panjang.
A SQUAD to help with post-flood recovery efforts has been formed by Ipoh City Council.
Ipoh mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin said the Madani Ihsan Squad was the first to be set up by a local authority in Perak and its services were not only for the city but also nearby districts.
“Assistance will not only be provided to victims in Ipoh, but covers the Greater Ipoh area, including Kampar, Kuala Kangsar and other nearby districts.
“Among its duties are providing food, shelter and also psychosocial support to victims who are traumatised by disaster,” he said in a press conference after the launch of the squad at the city council building.
The squad, he said, would also help with clean-up work and the relocation of victims.
“It is our commitment to foster the spirit of volunteerism, solidarity and empathy in providing the best services to the people, especially disaster victims.”
The squad would also be a platform to get closer to the community, he added, and facilitate the distribution of aid to victims.
With the squad, Rumaizi said assistance could be provided to victims swiftly, bypassing red tape.
“The squad is expected to provide a quick response, compared to the district disaster committee.
“From previous flood experience, there are some problems that require immediate attention,” he said.
He added that the squad had boats and buses at its disposal.
“The members of the squad comprise some permanent and auxiliary members from other departments and volunteers from non-governmental organisations and private companies.”