Almost 1,000 residents from four villages at the downstream areas of the Sultan Abu Bakar Dam in Cameron Highlands took part in a safety evacuation drill in preparation for the upcoming monsoon season.

The annual exercise by Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) on Nov 6 was aimed at the preparedness of TNB, related agencies involved and the residents whenever the water in the dam had to be released in a controlled manner during a natural disaster.

The agencies involved at the drill were the police, Malaysian Civil Defence Department, Cameron Highlands Fire and Rescue Department, Cameron Highlands District and Land Office/ Cameron Highlands District Council (MDCH), Sultanah Hajjah Kalsom Hospital, Education Department, Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa), Public Works Department and Cameron Highlands District Irrigation and Drainage Department.

"The drill was to increase the residents understanding of TNB's operating procedures related to a controlled water release of spillway gates in the event of a natural disaster," TNB chief generation officer Roslan Abd Rahman said in a statement today.

He said residents were exposed to three stages of sirens and alert lights to enable them to know their role in the event of a disaster.

"Residents need to be on guard at their homes while rescue agencies need to be prepared at the Lembah Bertam Disaster Operations Control Centre (PKTK)," he said.

Roslan said the first stage siren was sounded in breaks and was followed by an orange warning light being lighted when the lake's water level was expected to reach 3,509 feet (about 1,070 metres) above sea level in three hours.

He said rescue agencies would start to evacuate residents to designated emergency assembly points when the second stage siren was sounded continuously and a red warning light was switched on.

At this level, it indicates that the water level is expected to reach 3,509 feet above sea level in two hours.

"The third and final siren will be sounded when the water reaches 3,509 feet above sea level, with both the orange and red lights switched on continuously. At this point, all residents should be evacuated completely to the emergency assembly point before the dam's water is released in stages to prevent any worse impact," he said.

- Bernama