by Zaki Salleh
IPOH – The very heavy rain has been identified as the cause of flash floods in several areas around Perak since yesterday.
There were instances of floods with rainfall exceeding 50 times the average recurrence interval (ARI), which is a very high reading for flash flood events in small rivers.
The Director of the State Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS), Ahmad Shahrir Md Naziri, said that the floods occurred in areas with narrow rivers.
He mentioned that if the rain is not heavy, the capacity of these rivers can only handle approximately two to five ARI.
” We have implemented various methods to deal with this, and we have also carried out flood preparedness programmes since earlier.
“It has been somewhat surprising because in some cases (flooded areas), it happened while construction work was still ongoing,” he said.
Ahmad Shahrir stated that they are currently carrying out flood preparation work as well as any projects that are currently under implementation.
The State Disaster Management Committee (JPBN) Secretariat, in a statement, informed that the number of flood victims has increased to 38 people from 35 victims representing eight families yesterday.
They are still accommodated at the temporary relief center at Changkat Lobak National Primary School in the Kerian district.”
