Hydroclimate data projection to assist country's preparedness for flood risks, says Nik Nazmi

Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, said the data was obtained through the hydroclimate projection information system and portal.

KUALA LUMPUR: Hydroclimate data projection up to the year 2100, especially rainfall data, can assist the government's early planning and preparedness to reduce the risk of flood disasters, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, said the data was obtained through the hydroclimate projection information system and portal.

The National Water Research Institute of Malaysia (NAHRIM)-Hydroclimate Data Analysis Accelerator (N-HyDAA) was developed in 2016 by applying Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR4.0) technology.

"For example, the N-HyDAA hydro climate projection model was able to detect the forecast of a relatively heavy rain episode in the northern area of the country, including in Gunung Jerai, Kedah in August 2021.

"This includes the extraordinary floods which hit Peninsular Malaysia, the Klang Valley and the east coast states in December 2021, as well as the mud floods that occurred on July 4, last year, in Kampung Iboi, Kupang, Kedah," he said.

He said this in his reply to a question from Che Alias Hamid (PN-Kemaman) regarding the use of IR4.0 technology to reduce the risk of flood disasters in the future as well as the list of hotspot areas which have installed early warning systems for flood disasters.

Nik Nazmi said that phase one of the National Flood Forecasting and Warning Programme (PRAB), involving the Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang river basins, had been operational since 2017, while phase two, involving 38 river basins nationwide, was expected to be completed in stages and will be fully operational in 2025.

He added that PRAB was an early flood forecasting programme with the implementation of the National Flood Forecasting and Warning System which detects rainfall and water levels in real time.

The government was also developing 526 flood warning siren stations to be placed in stages at hotspot locations nationwide. He said of the number, a total of 117 siren stations were placed in Sabah, Selangor (99), Johor (45), Pahang (40), Kedah (38), 28 each in Perak and Kelantan, Penang (27), Kuala Lumpur (24), Sarawak (23), Negri Sembilan (21), Melaka (13), Perlis (12), Terengganu (10) and one in Labuan. – Bernama

By Bernama - March 20, 2023 @ 2:23pm
https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2023/03/890965/hydroclimate-data-projection-assist-countrys-preparedness-flood-risks?topicID=1&articleID=890965