Malaysia: Selangor Fire and Rescue Dept prepared to face possibilities of major flood due to high tide phenomenon

BERNAMA New Straits Times 20 Sep 16;

SHAH ALAM: The Selangor Fire and Rescue Department is fully prepared to face any possibilities of major flood in the state following the high-tide phenomenon.

Its assistant director (operations) Mohd Sani Harul said the department’s assets comprising 45 boats and 20 lorries would be used to help affected residents.

“A total of 1,300 firefighters and rescuers from 32 fire stations in the state are also in the state of full preparedness,” he told Bernama.

At present, he said several coastal and flood-prone areas were being closely monitored.

Mohd Sani also refuted the allegation that they had issued a warning that several areas in the state would be flooded to a depth of 9.4 metres as being viralised in social media.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Fisheries Development Board (LKIM) chairman Datuk Seri Dr Irmohizam Ibrahim said the LKIM had set up a special disaster committee to help local fishermen affected by the high-tide phenomenon yesterday.

“Disaster aid and insurance benefit will be given to the affected fishermen once the committee completed their assessment,” he said in a statement.

Irmohizam, who is Kuala Selangor Member of Parliament, said approximately 40 families in the constituency were affected by floods triggered by the high-tide phenomenon, which also caused floods in 13 other areas in five districts in the state early yesterday.

State Infrastructure and Public Amenities Committee chairman Zaidy Abdul Talib said the high-tide phenomenon had also damaged several bunds, namely in Kampung Sungai Serdang and Pandamaran in Klang; Pantai remis and Kampung Sungai Sembilang in Kuala Selangor; and Kampung Tok Muda in Kapar, Klang.

He said this was because the bunds were only capable of sustaining water flow of up to 5.5-metre high.

“The tide was really high yesterday, reaching over 5.6 metres,” he said, adding that repair works on the bunds, however, had been done by the Department of Irrigation and Drainage. -- Bernama


Unusually high tide wrecks 20 houses in village
The Star 19 Sep 16;

PULAU KETAM: Unusually high tide in the morning damaged some 20 homes in Kampung Bagan Sun­gai Lima New Village near here, including the wooden walkways.

Some 1,000 villagers were caught off guard by the tide, which was accompanied by strong winds and waves that struck at 5.30am yesterday.

Kapar MCA chief Datuk Song Kee Chai said more than 10 houses were seriously damaged as water seeped into the homes and ruined the floor and furniture.

“Ten other houses suffered partial damage,” he said after visiting the village here yesterday.

Song, who had rushed to the scene after attending the opening of the Kapar MCA meeting in Klang, said this was the worst incident of high tide in the village.

“It brought about much damage and inconvenience to the residents in getting about. But luckily, the concrete bridges within the village are all right,” he said.

Song said many villagers had to secure the wooden planks to prevent them from floating away.

Kapar Barisan Nasional committee liaison chief Datuk Faizal Abdullah, who was also at the meeting, later handed over an initial donation of RM10,000 for repairs.

Song said he was also in the midst of getting more aid for the villagers.

Pulau Ketam village chief Cha Keng Lee said although high tide was an annual occurrence between the eighth and the ninth month of the lunar calendar, this year’s incident was the worst in many decades.

“The high tide came and went in less than an hour. This year, the water level was 5cm higher than previously,” he said while assuring tourists that the village was safe to visit.


Residents fear another high tide will be devastating to Pulau Ketam village
ALLISON LAI The Star 19 Sep 16;

PULAU KETAM: Residents whose homes were damaged in the unusually high tide that struck the Kampung Bagan Sungai Lima New Village Sunday have sought temporary shelter at the theatre platform of a nearby temple.

Fearing that another high tide might totally bring down their homes, the residents decided to leave their homes which are mostly built on stilts.

Village headman Tan Chuee Cheng said many residents were worried about their safety after the village was struck with a massive tide, which was dubbed “never before” on Sunday morning, damaging houses and wooden walkways.

“The unusually high tide that was brought about by the northwest wind was worst today (Monday).

“The water level rose to 5.6m, the highest recorded in the last few decades.

“Many residents, especially those whose houses were damaged on Sunday, took shelter at the village temple’s opera theatre,” he said when contacted.

Earlier, it was reported in The Star that some 20 homes and many wooden walkways were damaged as water seeped into the homes and ruined the floor and furniture on Sunday morning following the high tide.

Some 1,000 villagers were caught off guard by the tide, which was accompanied by strong winds and waves that struck at 5.30am.

Tan said that the high tides in the last two days struck at about 5am and only began to recede two hours later.

He noted that the high tide phenomenon was usually seen in the third, sixth and ninth month of the lunar calendar every year, with tides in the ninth month being the highest.

“However, the tide this time is unusual and more serious compared to the years before. It came a month earlier and is expected to last longer.

“I urged all those who live nearby the coastal areas to be vigilant and stay alert at all times,” he added.

A check by The Star at the Port Klang KTM station Monday morning also saw several parts of the access road submerged in flash floods due to the high tide, including the main access road to the adjacent Southpoint ferry terminal.

Water rose to as high as 20cm near the station and terminal and flooded the access roads within 15 minutes following a heavy downpour at 5.30am.

Meanwhile, Selangor Infrastructure and Public Facilities Committee chairman Zaidy Abdul Talib said that the high tides have caused several bunds around the coastal areas to burst, causing flash floods.

“The bunds could withstand water level up to 5.5m in maximum. However, the water level rose to 5.6m on Sunday night due to the high tide and it overflowed the banks,” he said when contacted by The Star.

The bunds affected included those built at Kampung Sungai Serdang and Pandamaran in Klang; Pantai Remis and Kampung Sungai Sembilang in Kuala Selangor; and Kampung Tok Muda in Kapar.

“The Irrigation and Drainage Department is already repairing the broken bunds.

“Efforts to upgrade all bunds in Selangor are also underway and will begin in Sabak Bernam in October,” he added.