CLICK TO ENLARGEAuthorities on standby, public urged to stay alert as inter-monsoon period begins
PETALING JAYA: As Malaysia enters the inter-monsoon period, authorities have advised the public to take the necessary precautions to stay safe.
Amid occurrences of heavy rain and strong winds, Fire and Rescue Department director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad said the public has to be fully alert to changes in the weather.
“Avoid being near water bodies for the time being,” he said, adding that the inter-monsoon period could cause water surges.
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“The strong winds and rainfall from the inter-monsoon can also cause tree branches to break; hence, the public should avoid being in areas or park their vehicles where there are trees with high-canopy loads, such as raintrees,” he said when contacted.
Nor Hisham added that instructions have been issued for his department’s officers to patrol recreational areas, especially those near water bodies.
On preparations for the coming Hari Raya celebrations, he said the department will be on standby with the police at locations across the North-South Expressway, East Coast Expressway Phase 1 (LPT 1), and East Coast Expressway Phase 2 (LPT 2).
He added that 30% of the department staff’s leave has been frozen.
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Civil Defence Force (APM) Assistant Commissioner (PA) Sharudin Md Zain said all APM operation centres nationwide have been on standby since March 29, when the inter-monsoon began.
He said some 154 cases of fallen trees were recorded from March 29-31.
This marked a more than threefold increase in the number of cases compared with the same period last year, said Sharudin.
“This stark increase is due to the heavy rain and strong winds that occur in the later parts of the day,” he said, adding that 874 snakes were also caught between March 29 and March 31.
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Sharudin, who is the APM disaster management and operations director, also advised the public to take the necessary precautions before carrying out outdoor recreational activities.
“Plan for the location and prepare an emergency kit. Always monitor the situation there and inform the nearest police station of your route and activities planned.
“Check the trees when you are having outdoor activities, and make sure the grounds don’t show signs of erosion.
ALSO READ: Uptick in heat stroke, UV and other weather dangers
“Also take note that your camping site may be a habitat for wild animals,” he said, adding that the public should call 999 in case of emergencies.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) said heavy rainfall and strong winds can potentially occur during the inter-monsoon period, especially during later parts of the day.
“These weather conditions have the potential to cause thunderstorms, uproot trees and cause structural damage,” it said in a statement.
Malaysia’s transition to the inter-monsoon period marked the end of the northeast monsoon, which began on Nov 11 last year.
Uptick in heat stroke, UV and other weather dangers
Beating the heat: A man cooling down at a fountain on a hot day in Kuala Lumpur in this file photo. — AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star
JOHOR BARU: Three men in Johor have suffered from heat stroke, says state executive councillor Ling Tian Soon.
The Johor health and environment committee chairman said the cases occurred during the heatwave from January to March.
“One of the victims suffered from heat stroke while hiking. The other two victims are an army trainee and an oil palm estate worker.
“Two are currently hospitalised and one required outpatient treatment. Their condition has since stabilised,” he said when interviewed here yesterday.
He advised the public to continuously take precautionary measures as the Meteorological Department of Malaysia (MetMalaysia) recorded high temperatures ranging from 35°C to 37°C in districts like Muar, Tangkak and Segamat in the past three days.
Ling said in addition to the hot weather, Johor is currently in the monsoon transition stage, so rainfall may increase.
“During this time, it is usually hotter in the morning until afternoon. There will be a short period of rainfall in the late afternoon and evening, which could cause flash floods and strong winds.
“MetMalaysia also forecast average levels of rainfall from April until July,” he added.
Asked to comment on an advisory issued by Singapore’s National Environment Agency about extreme levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, Ling said the situation in Johor was still manageable.
On March 28, a Singapore English daily reported that the UV index in the city-state first entered the extreme band at about 12.15pm on March 27, with a reading of 11. It climbed to a high of 12 at about 12.45pm.
The UV index describes the level of solar UV radiation at the earth’s surface, and the maximum reading is 15.
Ling said the matter did not arise when he chaired the Johor environment action committee on Sunday, which was also attended by the state Environment Department and MetMalaysia.
However, he advised the public to avoid prolonged exposure to the sun.
Ling said if this is unavoidable, they should wear sunscreen, long sleeves or use an umbrella for protection.
“For those fasting, I urge them to hydrate themselves after breaking fast until their sahur (pre-dawn meal) to avoid dehydration,” he said.
After scorching heat for about two months, Sabah is finally experiencing light rainfall in several parts of the state.
Drizzle from three-day cloud seeding over Papar, Lahad Datu and Tawau were reported over the past few days.
Areas like Sandakan, Nabawan, Penampang and around Kota Kinabalu also saw light rain. It is unclear whether this was due to cloud seeding or other natural phenomena, but the state Meteorological Department reported a 67% success rate from the cloud-seeding exercise.
Meteorologists also forecast the current dry spell to lift with the setting in of the inter-monsoon season this month.
Sabah Meteorological Department director Amirzudi Hashim said the period is expected to continue until May.
“During this season, the country will receive weak winds, resulting in thunderstorms, heavy rain and strong winds that will only last a while,” he said in a statement yesterday.
He said these conditions often occur in the evening or early in the night in the west and interior parts of Peninsular Malaysia, west coast of Sabah as well as south and central Sarawak.
Amirzudi warned the public of flash floods, fallen trees and the destruction of unstable structures.
“The hot and dry spell is forecast to slowly improve by mid-April,” he said
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