KUCHING, 9 OCT – A total of 660 Temporary Transfer Centers (PPS) throughout Sarawak that can accommodate a total of 160,719 disaster victims are ready to be used and opened at any time to face the northeast monsoon season (MTL).
Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said MTL is expected to start early next month until March 2025.
Thus, he said the Sarawak State Disaster Management Committee (JPBNS) is always ready to face the MTL season with the strength of 9,817 human resources assisted by 295 land assets, 211 sea or river assets, 20 air assets and 269 other support assets.
Ungah, who is also the Chairman of JPBNS, said the Department of Social Welfare (JKM) is ready with disaster relief supplies to ensure sufficient capacity in all storage depots, office depots and forward bases.
He said during the MTL, continuous rain for a period of several days could result in flooding in low-lying areas and also areas that frequently flood.
“If heavy rain occurs at the same time as high tide, the flood will be worse,” he said in a statement in Kuching today.
He said, according to the forecast of the Meteorological Department, heavy rain for Sarawak is expected to start from December 2024 to February 2025 and is expected to experience the highest rainfall in January 2025.
“In addition, Divisional Residents and District Officers were also instructed that flood control rooms in all divisions and districts can be activated whenever necessary to ensure an efficient and effective response is given to the community in the face of flood situations,” he said.
He asked the community to prepare in advance if instructed to move to a safe place during a disaster and to keep all important documents safe from being lost and destroyed due to a disaster. – Named
