By Nancy Nais
KUCHING, Nov 7: The Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) has stepped up its flood monitoring and patrols in several high-risk areas in the State.
Today, the department’s air unit flew around the vicinity of Kuching, Bau, and Lundu to check on locations prone to flood. The MI 171 helicopter was piloted by Captain Mohd Ruzaidi Ramlee and assisted by co-pilot Clive Raymond.
“We have also identified several landing sites if our helicopter is needed to deliver flood aid such as food, clean water, medicine, and others. So we can deploy our helicopter as needed,” Sarawak Bomba head of operations centre Azizah Salim told reporters after the patrol this afternoon.
She pointed out that the Semariang Muslim cemetery is one of the landing points in Kuching, as well as the Bau and Lundu fire stations. Other firefighters were also deployed in six areas under Samarahan, Sibu, Bintulu, and Limbang.
The year-end monsoon season with incessant rain is expected to continue until February next year.
Meanwhile, Bomba Sarawak director Datu Khirudin Drahman said the department is well prepared for any eventualities, be it the possible year-end floods or the 15th General Election (GE15).
Monitoring and patrols in flood-prone areas will be based on the latest rainfall information and other cases channelled through the operations centre.
Khirudin added that their human resources, logistics, and planning are all in place, and his firefighters will render their support if required.
Sarawak’s auxiliary firefighters (PSB), Bomba Community and the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) are also on standby. — DayakDaily
