KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20 — The rescue teams during the recent floods in Selangor, despite having mobilised their assets, had difficulties in continuing their operations due to some constraints, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
He said they included problems for rescue boats to enter the flooded areas.
“On Saturday evening, December 18, 2021, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) and the Civil Defence Force (APM) had actually mobilised their respective teams to evacuate the victims.
“However, the rescue work was made difficult due to vehicles having been stranded on the main roads, preventing rescue vehicles from entering the residential areas. As such, the rescue assets had to be carried to the affected areas,” Ismail Sabri said when explaining the situation during the floods that hit several parts of Selangor last month at the Special Meeting of the Dewan Rakyat here today.
He said the delay in the evacuation operation was also due to nightfall, and many of the victims refusing to leave their homes.
The victims did not want to leave their homes because of several reasons, including the far distance of the relief centre, concern over thieves breaking into their homes, and fear of being infected by Covid-19.
Ismail Sabri added the delay in the rescue work was also due to the rescue team not being able to locate the address given by the caller.
Another constraint is rescue workers from other states were not familiar with areas affected by the floods in Selangor.
The prime minister said schools and other facilities that had been gazetted as temporary relief centre (PPS) were also submerged in the floods, forcing ad hoc PPS to be set up at suraus and mosques, with additional tents set up to accommodate the flood victims.
“The disruption in the electricity supply and other communication infrastructure due to the floods resulted in residents being unable to contact rescue agencies for assistance. This is one of the challenges faced by the rescue team and field personnel in this unusual disaster operation,” he added.
— Bernama
