KUALA NERUS: The State Civil Defence Force (APM) has cordoned off a total of 70 metres of erosion-prone area near Kampung Kolam beach, Mengabang Telipot, yesterday.
The move was taken to prevent villagers and curious onlookers from gathering at the area.
Its director Lt. Colonel Adam A. Rahman said the team has put up safety warning tapes covering 70 metres out of 200 metres affected seaside areas of the village.
"We have informed members of the public that it is dangerous to be close to the eroded area," he said today.
Adam said 10 APM personnel would be patrolling the beach to monitor the situation every four hours later.
He said at present, the waves are recorded to be between 2.5 and 3.5 metres high.
A night earlier, the waves had attracted a lot of attention, with villagers flocking to the seaside to witness the beach erosion process.
"We believe that if there is strong winds, the waves can reach to the main road and cordoning off the risk areas with warning tapes is an early cautionary measure to ensure that people will avoid the area for their own safety," he said when met at the scene.
It was reported earlier that the state government has announced an immediate allocation of RM1.2 million to overcome the serious beach erosion problem at Tanjung Gelam, about 500 metres away from Kampung Kolam.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman said the allocation was for a short-term solution to minimise the effects of erosion caused by big sea waves along the beach area.
It was learnt that, the Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) has suggested that two stretches of wave breaker be built at Tanjung Gelam.
A villager, Ibrahim Hussin, 77, said he was afraid that the waves could wipe out the whole village into the sea.