Water surge - What you need to know

SHAH ALAM - People need to learn about the early signs of potential danger and prioritise safety aspects before doing recreational activities to be safe from water surges.

Explaining on what is a water surge and safety measures that can be taken, Terengganu Civil Defense Force Director Rosman Abdullah said the natural phenomenon occurs due to heavy rain.

"Water surge is a phenomenon where water waves in a large quantity comes unexpectedly from the upstream part of the river.

"This flow is able to carry all kinds of garbage, wood and other things found in the river and will crash into any obstacle," he said.

Rosman said water surges can be detected through many ways, one of it is the sudden rise of water levels at the river.

"You can also detect the water surge by noticing leaves and twigs appearing on the surface of water.

"The dark sky above the river is also an indication of the occurence of heavy rain which leads to a water surge.

"You can also be aware of the strong sound of rushing water and rocks from the upstream of the river," he explained.

Rosman further advised the public to immediately leave the place if there are signs of a water surge.

"This is because the movement of water happens very fast and the water level increases rapidly," he said.

Meanwhile, Fire and Rescue Department Director in training, Datuk Norazam Khamis also shared some precautionary measures to be taken in case of a water surge.

"The community needs to know the area they are visiting. They need to identify high locations, so that in emergency cases, they know the fastest way to get out of the affected area.

"People must also be aware of the weather forecast and be updated on the latest information.

"The public must also have emergency equipment and make sure the picnic site or camping area has emergency items like buoys and throw bags," he said.

Norazam said people should exercise caution and prioritise the safety aspecta before doing any recreational activities.

Yesterday, 10 individuals, nine of them family members from Felda Lepar Hilir, Kuantan in Pahang were at Jeram Mawar for a picnic, before being swept away by a strong current.

The two victims, who were found by the public at noon yesterday, were identified as Azizah, 40, and her 11-year-old son Muhammad Zulqarnain Haikal Karim.

Today, seven more bodies were found during the search and rescue operation. One person is still missing.