BATU PAHAT: High tide and tidal waves may cause flash flooding along Sungai Segget and the area between Lido beach and the Causeway in Johor Baru on Tuesday, authorities have warned.
Johor Health and Environment Committee chairman Datuk Ayub Rahmat said cityfolk must be on alert for the possibility, which occurs as the result of a natural phenomenon known as ‘supertide.’
Ayub also called on the people to bear with ongoing upgrading works at Sungai Segget, which could also bring about flash flooding in the event of torrential rain.
The state government has urged residents in 12 coastal areas to be on guard as water levels are forecasted by the Johor Meteorological Department to rise up to 3.9 metres, coupled with a 1 metre-high tidal wave between today and Oct 20.
All local district councils in Johor have been warned of the supertide threat which may cause flash flooding in coastal and low-lying areas if there is torrential rain.
Ayub said people in affected areas will be relocated if there is such an occurrence.
Areas under threat are Tanjung Langsat (tide up to 3.5m), Tanjung Pelepas (up to 3.5m), Pasir Gudang (up to 3.5m), Tanjung Pelepas (up to 3.5m), Pulau Pisang (up to 3.5m), Endau coastal area (up to 3.4m), Sungai Belungkor (up to 3.3m), Kuala Batu Pahat (up to 3.2m), Mersing (up to 3.2m) and Tanjung Sedili (below 3m).
"However, we believe Johor is under control. States in the northern region, especially from Selangor upwards, are more at risk," Ayub said, adding that there is no flooding in Johor as of now.
He spoke after visiting residents living in the coastal area of Kampung Sungai Lurus here. With him were officials from the Johor Civil Defence Force.
Meanwhile, in Kedah, no evacuation has been called for, as the high tide phenomenon has not caused significant flooding as of press time.
Kuala Muda district Civil Defence Force (APM) officer Azhar Hamad said the situation is still under control, however, villagers have been warned to take heed if they are ordered to vacate their houses due to high tide.
“So far, no relief centre in the Kota Kuala Muda area has been opened, but we are monitoring the situation closely,” he said when contacted this morning.
According to Azhar, Kedah’s coastal areas have been blessed with good weather conditions since this morning, mitigating the effects of high tide.
He said wave levels during high tide have been between 2.8 and 2.9 metres, and have yet to reach 3 metres.