Ensure you put on a life jacket while travelling in a speedboat. Photo: The Star/Ronnie Chin
It is the school holidays, and most parents are trying to make the best of the year-end break by organising memorable outings with their children.
However, you might want to be extra careful if you're planning a trip to the waterfalls, hilly campsites or beaches during the monsoon season.
In fact, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia's Disaster Preparedness & Prevention Centre (Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology) director Dr Khamarrul Azahari Razak advises families to skip any excursions during the current rainy spell as it is extremely dangerous.
The weather is unpredictable and it is best to avoid going to places that pose any risk, says Khamarrul. Photo: Dr Khamarrul Azahari Razak"The weather is unpredictable and it is best to avoid going to places that pose any risk. Waterfalls, highlands, ecoparks and mountainous riverine systems that are prone to water-related disasters are dangerous places to go without proper risk knowledge“ said Khamarrul in an email interview.
He added that floods and landslides are common hazards in highly risk-sensitive areas (e.g. in the vicinity of unstable slopes, nearby riverbanks, or floodplains). Without local knowledge and proper risk information, we might be exposed to future risk and cascading impacts.
On Friday (dec 16), a landslide struck a campsite within the grounds of an organic farm in Batang Kali in Kuala Kubu Bharu, Selangor. At press time, 23 campers have lost their lives and 10 others are still missing.
Here are five places where Malaysians should remain vigilant during the monsoon season.
Beware of water surge signs at a waterfall. Photo: The Star/Muhamad Shahril Rosli
Kids certainly know how to have an enjoyable time in a waterfall. But, while it is fun to soak in the calm waters, waterfalls can be dangerous too. Kepala air (water surge) could occur anytime and sweep anything in its way in seconds. Once you notice a large amount of leaves and deadwood flowing down the waterfall, it's a tell-tale sign that a water surge will happen. So, quickly get out of the water.
Many rivers across the country are swollen yearly due to continuous downpours during the monsoon season. Avoid swimming in rivers, as you could be vulnerable to waterborne diseases, toxic waste and dangerous reptiles. On Dec 13, a crocodile was spotted on a flooded road in Kuantan.
Some hiking trails are slippery during the rainy season. One slip and you could be injured. Photo: The Star/Izzrafiq Alias
While jungle trekking is a great way to explore the outdoors, it is advisable to postpone hiking or trekking activities during the rainy season.
This is because some tracks could be slippery, and hikers could injure themselves. The Pahang Forestry Department has closed all campsites by rivers and in high-risk locations after the recent landslide tragedy in Batang Kali.
A red flag indicates high currents are present and swimmers are discouraged from entering the water. Photo: Filepic
Rip currents are one of the most dangerous incidences that can occur at sea. This is a situation where a specific type of water current occurs near beaches with breaking waves.
If you are caught in a rip current, remain calm. Swim along the shoreline until you can escape the current's pull. Remember, always swim on beaches with lifeguards.
Never swim alone; always look for colour-coded warning flags along the beach. A single red flag means high currents, while a purple flag means dangerous marine life has been spotted.
Many islands in the East Coast states are closed during the monsoon season for a good reason. This is due to dangerous waves and high water surges during the rainy season.
A study conducted at Britain's Southampton University has shown that almost any boat can be capsized by a wave equal to 55% of the boat's overall length. Doesn't that sound scary? So ensure to put on a life jacket on your next trip on a speedboat.
