M’sians Advised to Avoid Lata Bayu Waterfall & Other Kedah High-Risk Areas Due to Unpredictable Weather

The public is advised to stay away from the Lata Bayu waterfall in Asam Jawa, Baling and other high-risk areas in Kedah during the current unpredictable weather and the monsoon transitional phase.

As reported by BERNAMA, the Civil Defence Force (APM) released the public advisory recently, asserting that Lata Bayu waterfall is on the list of 39 recreation areas identified as hot spots at high risk of water surge phenomenon in Kedah.

Kedah APM Disaster Operations Division chief Capt Saifuddin Abdullah added that a water surge phenomenon recently took place in Lata Bayu on Thursday (31 August) after a heavy downpour.

The incident trapped two women who were at the recreation area but thankfully, they both were rescued.

Saifuddin Abdullah said,

“The public must be cautious when visiting recreational areas for picnics or camping, especially the Lata Bayu waterfall, as it is one of the areas prone to debris flows in Baling,”

He elaborated that Baling has the highest recorded at-risk for water surge locations with 11 spots followed by six in Yan and five in Sik.

The other 10 high-risk areas in Baling include Kuala Kedua, Lata Bukit Hijau, Teratak Simpul, Lata Celak Iboi, Air Panas Ulu Legong, Lubuk Badak, Sungai Pam, Lata Baling, Lubuk Pedati and Lata Nering.

In preparation for the unpredictable weather, 1,100 state APM personnel are on standby to be mobilised to handle flash floods expected during the transitional phase of the Northeast Monsoon.

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