KUALA LUMPUR, June 16 — Flash floods are a regular feature in the city whenever there is a heavy downpour, often causing motorists to be stuck in a traffic snarl for hours.

Hopefully, motorists will not be so hard hit once Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) starts posting up-to-date information on the flood situation on Facebook.

DBKL Enforcement Department Director Mustafa Mohd Nor said it planned to create a Facebook account to update road users on flood-hit areas each time there was a downpour.

He also hoped that the public would share whatever information they have on the flood situation on social media so that motorists could avoid being trapped in flash floods and take alternative routes instead.

“The speedy dissemination of the latest information by the public can help avert untoward incidents,” he told Bernama.

Pointing to the recent flash floods which caused many vehicles to be trapped, he said public cooperation was crucial to prevent such incidents from taking place again.

Flood updates via WhatsApp

On June 3, an unusual hailstorm, as well as heavy rains, caused flash floods to occur in various parts of the city, including Bukit Jalil, Jalan Duta, Jalan Bangsar, Jalan Pantai Baru and the second Middle Ring Road heading to Bandar Tasik Selatan, Jalan Genting Klang and Taman Melati, Gombak.

On May 12, over 100 vehicles were trapped after flash floods hit several key roads in Kuala Lumpur. Among the roads affected were Jalan Bangsar, Jalan Semantan, Jalan Pantai Baru, Jalan Pudu and Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim.

On when his department planned to launch its Facebook account, Mustafa said the matter was still under discussion at DBKL’s top level and it would be created “in the near future”. 

“Currently, information (on floods) is relayed via WhatsApp among our enforcement officers before it is disseminated to the public (via WhatsApp).

“When it rains heavily, our enforcement officers use their phone cameras to take photographs of the visuals relayed on the Integrated Traffic Information System (ITIS) screens installed in various parts of the city. These photos are then sent to our disaster relief WhatsApp group, which disseminates the information to others immediately,” he said.  

Mustafa said more closed-circuit television cameras have been installed under ITIS, whose central monitoring centre is located in Bukit Jalil, in various parts of the city to facilitate monitoring.

“So when there’s a heavy downpour and the water level begins to rise, our officers on duty will get the relevant information from various hotspots where floods are likely to occur.

“Soon after that, we will send a rescue squad, as well as a team of traffic officers, to the hotspots concerned to carry out rescue work, or divert or stop traffic from heading to the area (hotspot),” he explained.

Public cooperation vital

Reiterating the importance of public cooperation in disseminating flood updates, Mustafa said more often than not, motorists and other road users were the ones who were badly affected by flash floods.

“Traffic congestion worsens whenever it rains in Kuala Lumpur on a working day. And, if the rain is exceptionally heavy, traffic is reduced to a crawl,” he said, adding that it would be better for employees to remain in their office if they know it is raining outside.

“Unfortunately, many don’t wait for the rain to stop... resulting in bumper-to-bumper traffic jams on roads and vehicles unable to budge in case there’s an emergency.” 

No thanks to the traffic congestion, vehicles would end up getting submerged should a serious flash flood occur, he said.

“The water level usually rises very swiftly... it takes only 20 minutes for it to rise and 20 minutes to subside. This is why motorists should think twice before getting into their cars during bad weather. They shouldn’t just think about reaching their destinations quickly as it can put their lives in peril,” he said. 

Take heed of the weather

Former DBKL Advisery Board member Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, meanwhile, advised the public to take heed of the weather and also the signboards placed along the main roads, especially those prone to flash floods.

He also stressed the importance of keeping the public updated on flash floods so that they could use alternative roads to get to their destinations.

“I think many have learnt their lessons from the previous flash floods, but there are still some people who’re not exercising any caution.

“The broadcast media and social media can cooperate with DBKL, Malaysian Highway Authority and the various local councils to disseminate news (on the floods) as quickly as possible,” said Lee, who is also Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research Chairman.

Federal Territories Deputy Minister Datuk Dr J. Loga Bala Mohan was quoted as saying recently that the government would spend RM92 million to upgrade Kuala Lumpur’s flood control system. 

He said the money would be used to build new drains, as well as replace old pipelines, install water pumps, and build retention ponds and road diversions. — Bernama