KUCHING: Sibu has earned the dubious distinction of being the most prone to natural disasters in the state.
“As of now, we have identified a total of 349 locations that are prone to floods with Sibu having the highest number with 90,” said Fire and Rescue Department Director Datuk Khirudin Drahman @ Hussaini.
The department has also identified 97 locations that are prone to seeing roads being cut off – and Sibu has the highest number of 42.
“A total of 77 locations are prone to landslides with Sibu also having the most with 32,” he said.
In the same breath however Khirudin assured that his men are well prepared to handle disasters or any emergency situation.
“We are well prepared as we have learnt from the cases we have handled before and we also study the cases that have happened outside Sarawak,”he said.
The department, Khirudin added, is constantly doing surveillance work and updating such data every single day.
In terms of manpower, he revealed that the department has more than 1,400 firefighters across 39 fire stations in Sarawak.
“Also, there are more than 2,300 Volunteer Fire Brigades (PBS), more than 8,600 Community Fire Brigades, more than 10,000 Community Emergency Response Teams and more than 800 members from Summer Camp.
“We have 16 lorries, 13 vans, 67 4×4 utilities, 46 safety boats and a Mi171 helicopter.”
Khirudin is confident coordination with the State Disaster Management Committee and cooperation with other agencies will help the department minimise the impact of any natural disaster.
In a related development he said people’s reaction in the first five minutes of a disaster or emergency situation will in most cases determine just how big the problem is going to turn out to be.
This is a vital period as their reaction will determine whether an incident is handled effectively, keeping it as minor as possible and dealing with it, he said.
“That is why the priority of our strategic plans is to create a disaster-resilient community,” he said.
Towards this end he stressed that people need to change their mindset and hat this could be taught through education.
“Education can help establish a community that knows how to react accordingly in the first five minutes.
“Panic is always the culprit when an incident happens as it causes people to lose the ability to act and think fast,” Khirudin reiterated.
