In a statement, its chairman Douglas Uggah Embas said the Sarawak fire and rescue department will have 1,590 personnel on duty during that period, supported by 9,187 community firefighting team members and 8,624 community emergency response team members.

He said the department had also identified 310 flood hotspots throughout the state, 73 of which are in Sibu, 52 in Sri Aman, 42 in Kuching, 40 each in Samarahan and Miri, 32 in Bintulu, and 31 in Limbang.

“The department also identified 97 locations where road links are most susceptible to be cut off, 42 of which are in Sibu. There are also 77 landslide-prone locations, with Sibu again having the lion’s share at 32,” he said.

In terms of logistics, he said the state’s fire and rescue department had prepared 48 boats, 16 lorries, 87 four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicles and a helicopter, while the police would have 1,663 personnel, along with 52 lorries, 109 4WD vehicles, 119 cars, 35 vans, an ambulance and a bus.

Uggah, who is also a Sarawak deputy premier, said the fire and rescue department had prepared 647 various assets such as jet skis, boats and life jackets for operations in rivers and at sea.

He said the Sarawak coastguard formed last year would also be mobilising six interceptor boats, six longboats and 100 personnel in preparation for any disaster during the period. Some 245 rainfall, 280 telemetry and 114 water-level stations are also in operation throughout the state to monitor the weather situation.

“Police have identified 631 evacuation centres capable of accommodating 188,360 evacuees in schools and community centres, while the welfare department had stocked up their depots with food and other necessities with 1,971 officers and volunteers to be on hand at these centres,” he said.

Uggah said a three-day course would be held in Sibu next month to better prepare those involved in the rescue operations during the monsoon period.

He also extended his appreciation to Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar of Johor who, through the Yayasan Sultan Ibrahim Johor, donated 6,400 tents to the disaster management committee to be used at evacuation centres.