Tawau river among 15 high-risk areas for drownings

PUTRAJAYA: The Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) has identified 15 hotspots as high-risk areas for drownings, said Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin.

“The locations were identified based on data on the incidence of death by drowning of more than five victims between 2016 and 2018,” he told reporters after launching the Water Activity Safety Council (MKAA) and the Basic Safety Awareness Module, here, Friday.

For coastal areas, the locations are Pantai Nipah, Bachok (14 victims) and Muara Tok Bali, Pasir Puteh, Kelantan (seven), as well as Teluk Bahang, Batu Ferringhi, Penang (seven).

For lakes, mines and dams, the places are the Semenyih Dam, Semenyih (10), Sungai Buloh KTM Station Bridge (five) and the Taman Putra Perdana Dam, Puchong, Selangor (10).

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The river areas are Sungai Kg Batu Payung, Tawau, Sabah (15); Sungai Kg Sabak, Pengkalan Chepa, Kelantan (six); Sungai SKC Kg Timah, Sungai Tinggi, Selangor (seven); Sungai Chiling, Kuala Kubu Bharu, Selangor (six) and Sungai Gasi, Sungai Buloh, Selangor (five). The high-risk waterfalls are the Sungai Sendat Waterfalls, Ulu Yam, Selangor (12); Lata Berembun Waterfalls, Raub, Pahang (10); Chamang Waterfalls, Bentong, Pahang (five) and Sekayu Waterfalls, Terengganu (11). Zuraida said according to JBPM data, in 2016, there were 260 cases of drowning in recreational areas, 327 in 2017 and 309 in 2018. Last year, she said, 182 incidents were reported in river or irrigation canal areas, 58 at beaches, 39 in mining or lake areas, and 27 in waterfall areas. Zuraida said with the school holidays beginning Friday and today (Saturday), the JBPM has been instructed to monitor areas which have been categorised as high-risk with drowning cases occurring during school holidays.

“The public, especially parents, are urged to monitor their children visits to recreational places and take heed of the warnings of danger on the signboards, as well as safety tips or guides in high-risk water areas,” she said.

Zuraida said the launch of the MKAA was an initiative to increase public awareness of the council’s role in promoting water safety.

She added that the Water Safety Basic Awareness Module was also an initiative for school children for safety in water activities.

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On the report on the investigation into the death of six members of the Water Rescue Unit (PPDA) who were on a rescue mission in Taman Putra Perdana, Puchong last October, Zuraida said it would tabled to the Cabinet in April before it is announced to the public.

The firefighters drowned when they were swept off by strong currents in a search-and-rescue mission for a youth who fell into a mining pool on Oct 3.

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