KUALA SELANGOR: THE Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) is ready to face the northeast monsoon season, set to take take place from next month to March.
Its commander, Colonel Mohd Tahar Abdul Razak, said the team, comprising 11 officers and 130 staff members, were ready to be mobilised to areas where help was needed.
“For the northeast monsoon, our efforts will focus on rescuing trapped victims in landslides or collapsed buildings,” he said after witnessing the team’s air rescue training in collaboration with the Subang Fire and Rescue Department at the Universiti Selangor field in Bestari Jaya here yesterday.
The Agusta AW139 and Agusta A109E helicopters were used in the training, where SMART members practised “abseiling” (the act of sliding down a rope to make a safe descent) and “fast-roping” (a technique for descending on a thick rope).
Tahar said all SMART members were well-trained as they had served in the army, police or the Fire and Rescue Department.
“They are frequently involved in rescue operations at home and abroad.
“With the skills and equipment, SMART members should be able to carry out the task well when the monsoon strikes.”
The monsoon season has begun in the east coast. Kelantan and Terengganu has seen flash floods and minor evacuation of settlements since Nov 15.
The areas affected include Tumpat, Pasir Mas, Kota Baru, Bachok, Machang and Pasir Puteh in Kelantan; and Besut, Setiu, Kuala Nerus, Kuala Terengganu, Marang, Dungun and Kemaman in Terengganu.
The east coast states of Kelantan and Terengganu are no stranger to floods.
They usually bear the brunt of the monsoon season.
Low-lying areas in Kelantan, including residential areas along Sungai Golok, are normally the worst hit during floods and residents would be evacuated to relief centres.
In December 2014, flash floods forced more than 24,000 people in Kelantan and 21,000 people in Terengganu to flee their homes.