SEREMBAN: A total of 15 villages in Port Dickson, Negri Sembilan could be flooded if the high tide phenomenon occurs in the state.
State Civil Defence Force (APM) director Lt Kol Kamal Mokhtar however said for now, the situation is under control and may only happen if there are heavy rains coupled with strong winds.
The fifteen villages are Kampung Si Rusa Dalam, Kampung Telok Pelandok, Kampung Air Meleleh, Kampung Paya, Taman Sri Tarjing, Kampung Sawah, Kampung Jawa, Kampung Pachitan, Kampung India, Kampung Bukit Pelandok, Kampung Bukit Melintang, Kampung Chuah, Kampung Baru Site A and Kampung Jimah and Kampung Sungai Raya.
"Three trucks have been stationed there and six officers on duty on every shift and more reinforcements will be made if the situation becomes critical.
"APM is always on the lookout and monitoring the situation to see if the high tide phenomenon will happen."
Kamal said state APM has taken steps by centralising all of its assets at APM Port Dickson office and ready to launch rescue operations if the area is flooded.
He said among APM's duties during the high tide phenomenon, which is expected to end on Oct 25, include patrolling the beaches during the period, strengthening its logistics and centralising the processes at APM Port Dickson.
"Should there be heavy rains, APM personnel will make rounds at hotspots and assist at the command center which is open 24 hours a day.
Meanwhile earlier today, checks at the Port Dickson beach showed that the high tide and low tide occurred earlier than usual.
Windy conditions whipped up slightly taller waves but it did not prevent the public from continuing with their activities as normal.
A visitor from Shah Alam, Selangor, Mohd Shafiq Mohd Akbarm, 24, said he is aware of the high tide phenomenon but continues to delve in beach activities together with his friends as well as with other beach goers as he feels that the situation is under control.
"However we still take precautions and ensure our safety at all times by being alert with wave conditions as well as adhere with the warnings issued by the authorities," he said when met at the Teluk Kemang beach here.
Meanwhile, State Civil Defence Force officer, Mohamad Azri Abu Hassan, said the conditions at the beaches of Tanjung Biru, Saujana, Bagan Pinang and Telok Kemang are under control.
He said the high tide started at 1.30pm yesterday and started to gradually ebb at 6.57pm.
"The gusty winds created medium size waves such as the one which lashed the beach in early morning.
However, the condition is not dangerous and water activities can still be carried out but we have to be vigilant and fishermen can still go out to sea."
Mohamad Azri said his team is always patrolling the beaches once every two hours at all locations and up till yesterday, no residents or tourists have been evacuated.