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KUCHING – Sarawak has put in place meticulous preparations through its Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) to face the northeast monsoon season, which is predicted to bring heavy rain and thunderstorms between December to January next year.
In a statement today, SDMC chairman Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department would have 1,590 personnel on duty during the period, supported by 9,187 members of community firefighting teams and 8,624 members of community emergency response teams.
He said the department had also identified 310 flood hotspots throughout the state, 73 of which were in Sibu division, 52 in Sri Aman, 42 in Kuching, 40 each in Samarahan and Miri, 32 in Bintulu, and 31 in Limbang.
“The department has also identified 97 locations where road links are most susceptible to be cut off, 42 of which are in Sibu. There are also 77 landslide-prone locations, with Sibu again having the lion’s share at 32,” he said.
In terms of logistics, he said that the Sarawak FRD had prepared 48 boats, 16 lorries, 87 four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicles and a helicopter, while police would have 1,663 personnel, along with 52 lorries, 109 4WD vehicles, 119 cars, 35 vans, an ambulance, and a bus.
The Sarawak deputy premier said that for its rivers and sea operations, the Sarawak FRD had prepared 647 various assets such as jet skis, boats, and life jackets.
He said the Sarawak coast guard formed last year would also mobilise six interceptors boats, six longboats, and 100 personnel in preparation for any disaster during the period, while 280 telemetry stations, comprising 151 stations for rainfall monitoring, 23 for water level monitoring, and 106 rainfall and water level stations are already in operation throughout the state to monitor the weather situation.
“Police have identified 631 evacuation centres capable of accommodating 188,360 evacuees in schools and community centres, while the Welfare Department has stocked up its depots for food and other necessities with 1,971 officers and volunteers to be on hand at these centres,” he said.
Uggah said a three-day course would be held in Sibu next month to better prepare those involved in the rescue operations during the monsoon period.
He also extended his appreciation to Sultan Ibrahim Ismail of Johor who, through Yayasan Sultan Ibrahim Johor, donated 6,400 tents to SDMC to be used at the evacuation centres. – Bernama, September 21, 2022