The Fire and Rescue Department has placed its air unit on full standby to carry out aerial surveys and deliver essential supplies to communities cut off by rising floodwaters.
Director-general Datuk Seri Nor Hisham Mohamad said drones are also being deployed to identify safe routes for boat teams navigating remote and hard-to-reach villages.
“We are ready to mobilise our air assets at any time, especially for isolated areas. Drones are being used to map safe passages and to support ground operations,” he told NST.
Nor Hisham said all firefighters nationwide are currently operating on 12-hour rotational shifts. These will be extended to 24-hour shifts if conditions worsen.
“To ensure every station maintains maximum strength, leave in affected states will be frozen immediately. Only 20 per cent of officers and personnel are allowed to take leave during this period,” he said.
He added that data from the National Fire and Rescue Operations Centre showed a significant spike in cases over the past 48 hours. These included 69 fallen-tree incidents—mostly in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur due to thunderstorms—and 67 flash flood reports, particularly in urban areas experiencing rapid rainfall exceeding 60mm.
Flash floods are often triggered by short, intense downpours, especially during the monsoon season, when rivers rise quickly and drainage systems become overwhelmed.
Based on recent rainfall data from METMalaysia and river levels from Public Infobanjir, the department has identified three major high-risk zones.
The Primary Zone covers the East Coast river basins in Kelantan and Terengganu, which remain highly vulnerable due to concentrated monsoon rains.
In Kelantan, key areas of concern include Pasir Mas—particularly Rantau Panjang—Tumpat, Kota Bharu, Bachok, and low-lying parts of Tanah Merah. The Sungai Golok water level, he noted, has risen above the warning mark.
In Terengganu, the high-risk districts are Besut, Setiu, and the upriver areas of Hulu Terengganu.
Despite the East Coast being the monsoon centre, Nor Hisham warned that the West Coast is also at risk. Klang, Selangor, and parts of Penang are being closely monitored, particularly during evening high tides that could strain drainage systems.
“Continuous rainfall may also cause soil saturation, increasing the risk of landslides and slope failures, especially in hillside communities and highland routes,” he said.
