PETALING JAYA: All fire stations in Selangor will be equipped with at least one boat during the Northeast Monsoon season.
State Fire and Rescue Department director Wan Md Razali Wan Ismail said there are 38 fire stations within seven zones in Selangor.
"In total, we have 92 boats ready and will ensure that each fire station is equipped with at least one boat.
"This is part of our flood preparations during this monsoon season," he said after attending a reunion among retired personnel at the Jalan Penchala fire station here today.
He said although Selangor was not on the list of states affected by the Northeast Monsoon, the department did not want to take any chances.
"Our experience with widespread floods in December 2021 is what is driving us to make adequate preparations.
"During that year, floods affected seven districts, including Hulu Langat and Klang," he said, adding that the most impacted area was Sri Muda in Shah Alam.
Razali said due to increasingly unpredictable weather, the occurrence of flash floods in flood-prone areas was being monitored.
"All we need is heavy rains for over an hour for floodwaters to rise in certain areas of the state.
"As such, we are monitoring information from the Meteorological Department and the Drainage and Irrigation Department."
He said the department was also on standby for other incidents, such as landslides and water surges.
"We advise the public to avoid recreational activities near slopes, rivers or beaches during this period."
It was reported that the Fire and Rescue Department has identified more than 5,600 flooding hotspots, along with 254 critical slopes and 201 locations susceptible to water surges, also known as 'kepala air'.
Department director-general Datuk Nor Hisham Mohammad told the 'New Sunday Times' that his department had taken measures to deal with floods and other disasters.
He also said 13,393 personnel will be on duty during this period, supported by 8,398 volunteer firemen and 2,147 auxiliary personnel.
The Meteorological Department told the 'New Sunday Times' that rainfall due to the Northeast Monsoon was expected to peak in December.
Its deputy director-general (operations), Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip, said forecasts indicated slightly higher rainfall compared with last year, with Terengganu expected to receive more than 1,000mm of rain during the December peak.