KOTA TINGGI: As part of the Fire and Rescue Department’s preparations for the Northeast Monsoon, firemen will patrol water bodies that have been deemed “flood hotspots” nationwide.

       With strong winds and high waves expected during the monsoon season, foot patrols will also be conducted along popular beaches.

       The department’s director-general Datuk Seri Mohammad Hamdan Wahid (pic) said these water bodies include rivers, beaches, lakes, waterfalls and even tributaries.

       “We have also deployed 580 personnel who are specialists in underwater and surface water rescue to beef up personnel in flood-prone states,” he said, adding that the usual hotspots were in Johor, Pahang, Kelantan, Terengganu, Sabah and Sarawak.

       Rescue agencies usually monitor about 250 hotspots when the flood season starts.

       Mohammad Hamdan said besides the usual flood hotspots, the department was also prepared to carry out rescue operations in other areas nationwide.

       On the death of fireman Mohd Diya Che Jusoh during a rescue operation in Melaka last week, he said the case was most unfortunate as the flash flood had not even occurred at a hotspot or a location considered dangerous.

       “In fact, after three hours, everything was back to normal in that area. But during the flash flood, the currents were very strong.

       “Our department is constantly updating our standard operating procedure with regards to such rescue operations and I have always reminded my officers to be alert and be prepared,” he said in an interview.

       On Oct 21, Mohd Diya, 46, died at the Emergency and Trauma Department of Hospital Melaka at 3.11am, hours after he collapsed while taking part in the operation in Sungai Putat.

       Mohammad Hamdan said besides Mohd Diya, the department had also lost six firemen during a rescue operation at a mining pool in Puchong in 2018.

       “We are now building a new RM30mil special simulator in our training centre in Wakaf Tapai in Terengganu to help simulate various dangerous situations, including hazardous material, highway accidents and even swift water during floods,” he said, adding that the project, which started last year, would be completed by next year.

       Each fireman, he said, would be sent for this simulation training to better prepare them for emergencies.

       Sebana Cove Fire and Rescue Department station chief Mohd Khairul Sufian Dahari said personnel had been put on foot patrols along popular beaches in Desaru.

       “Since Johor moved to Phase Four of the National Recovery Plan on Oct 25, over 30,000 people have visited public beaches here,” he added.

       The main focus of the surveillance, said Mohd Khairul, was to remind the public of safety measures and to maintain Covid-19 SOP compliance in public places.

       “We have conducted surveillance every day, especially from Friday to Sunday, as more people visit these places during that time,” he said, adding that these were carried out twice daily.

       Since August, the department has received reports on four drowning cases.

       “The main reason is due to the terrain along the beach, with the longshore ending in a sudden steep drop-off.

       “During low tide, some visitors would venture far out to sea. The waves would seem small near the drop-off before suddenly rising when approaching shallower water.“This is very dangerous, especially to inexperienced swimmers,” he said when met at the Public Desaru Beach.

       The department, he added, had also roped in traders and business owners near the beach to act as lookouts.

       “We are also working together with the police, marine police as well as the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency on the ground and sea surveillance,” said Mohd Khairul.

       Teluk Penyabong Resort Mersing manager Fahmi Abd Malik said any form of water activity, including island hopping, snorkelling and fishing, would usually be stopped during the monsoon season for safety reasons.

       “Although the shore is quite long and the water level near the resort is shallow, we still ensure that the safety of our guests remains the top priority,” he said, adding that the resort had started issuing reminders.

       Shaz Resort Pulau Tinggi director Datuk Md Zairi Zainal said island resorts in Mersing would usually be closed to any activity at such times due to the rough seas and strong wind conditions.

       “Based on my experience, people can still come to Pulau Tinggi and Pulau Sibu for snorkelling as the weather is still okay.

       “Our resort would usually be fully closed in December as the monsoon would first hit Kelantan and Terengganu before coming down to Johor,” he said.