Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Malaysian disaster management agencies are on high alert ahead of the possible onset of a "Super El Niño" later this year while also strengthening their response to extreme heat and haze during the southwest monsoon season.
Director-General of the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) Meor Ismail Meor Akim said government agencies responsible for disaster management convened a meeting on July 7 to review their preparedness and strengthen coordinated response efforts.
He said the Malaysian government is shifting towards a proactive approach to disaster prevention, rather than simply responding to disasters, adding that all necessary resources and personnel have been prepared for rapid mobilisation should the situation worsen.
NADMA has urged the public to remain vigilant against the risks of heatwaves, open burning and haze in the coming months, while calling on the media to help disseminate preventive measures.
Deputy Director-General of the Malaysian Meteorological Department Ambun Dindang said the department is closely monitoring the potential formation of a "Super El Niño" based on data from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Climate Prediction Centre (CPC), particularly changes in sea surface temperatures in the central Pacific Ocean.
According to current forecasting models, the phenomenon is expected to begin developing around November and affect Malaysia early next year. However, Ambun noted that forecasts remain subject to change as more data becomes available.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department warned that the southwest monsoon could bring drier and hotter weather while reducing rainfall in some areas, increasing the risks of hotspots, forest fires, peat fires and transboundary haze. The extent of the impact will depend on the forest fire situation in neighbouring countries and prevailing wind patterns./.
