| Siti Hajar |
LOCAL authorities are currently on standby in view of the current weather conditions that have brought heavy rains to the Sultanate.
The National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) yesterday assured the public that first responders including the Royal Brunei Police Force, health agencies, the military as well as government welfare bodies, particularly the Community Development Department (JAPEM) are ready to provide assistance to those affected by flash floods and landslides.
Speaking to the Bulletin yesterday, Head of Operations Pengiran Haji Sabli bin Pengiran Damit explained that the weekend witnessed the deployment of first responders to a number of locations to, among others, direct traffic, rescue families from inundated homes with access roads cut off by waist-high waters and dispatch health as well as welfare officials to assess the needs of civilians.
An incident report outlining the weekend situation shared with the Bulletin recorded a total of nine landslide incidents in the Brunei-Muara and Tutong Districts that were duly handled by authorities with the Public Works Department engaged to take further action.
Among the worst hit yesterday was Simpang 727 in Kampong Jangsak where authorities dispatched a Fire and Rescue boat to evacuate a family that included several young children.
Fire and Rescue personnel rescuing residents from a flooded area in Kampong Jangsak. – PHOTOS: BAHYIAH BAKIR
Fire and Rescue personnel in a group photo with a grateful family rescued from the flood in Kampong Jangsak
The homeowner, Wendy, who was set to celebrate the Christmas holidays this week, expressed her gratitude to the quick action afforded by Brunei’s first responders, praising them for their bravery particularly the Fire and Rescue Department who, it was said, “Helped us and made the necessary calls for us,” to other agencies.
Despite the assistance, however, she expressed dismay with regards to the improper drainage infrastructure which she believes could have prevented such an occurrence.
“We hope that the relevant authorities can figure out ways to prevent future flooding here as we can see that the incident is due to the improper drainage access and our hope is for them to conduct surveys in the area,” as a means to assess the neighbourhood’s drainage needs.
As part of the NDMC assessment, the Head of Operations explained that the weekend weather conditions were still at Level Zero that did not require the activation of district-level disaster management command posts but instead engaged only the basics of first responders.
“This year’s incidents were not as critical compared to last year,” he pointed but this, however, does not negate the need for multi-level agency involvement to better manage situations of natural disasters.
“The infrastructure in several of these locations cannot cope with heavy rain,” he said. “Though there are areas that could have been worst hit if it had not been for infrastructural developments there,” such as Subok, “other areas continue to experience flooding and landslides.”
Over the next few days, the Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department forecasts more heavy rains brought on by the after effects of Typhoon Melor that lashed the Philippines recently.
“If landslides occur within residential areas, the public is advised to contact the NDMC, the Fire and Rescue Department as well as the Public Works Department,” urged Pengiran Haji Sabli, and stressed the need for vigilance especially by motorists during the expected downpours.
“Follow traffic police instructions when necessary and should authorities are not present, we urge motorists to pull over and wait for flood waters to recede or search for safer alternative routes.”
In general, it was said that the public should also be prepared for extreme weather conditions resulted by global warming.
It was also shared authorities have held preparatory meetings for all the four districts with first responder involvement for rainy period that occurs between September and January with the wettest being December.
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