KOTA TINGGI: Fire and rescue personnel play a vital role in the search and rescue (SAR) operations in the event of a natural disaster, an accident or a boat capsized tragedy.

Bad weather conditions and the discovery of bloated bodies are among the challenges faced by the personnel, apart from having to comply with strict standard operating procedures (SOP) when carrying out their duties.

Bandar Penawar Fire and Rescue Station Senior Fire Officer II Faizal Ahmad said the strict SOPs being observed since the outbreak of COVID-19 had taught him and his team a lot about the meaning of patience in discharging their responsibilities.

"Since the emergence of COVID-19, we have been carrying out operations differently. In the past, when we found a body, we would retrieve it immediately .

"(But) now, when a body is found, we have to follow the SOP, including carrying out disinfection procedures, wearing PPE (personal protective equipment) and only then the body can be lifted," he told Bernama recently.

Faizal said the department would now inform the operations control centre about the discovery of a body, apart from the police and the Ministry of Health.

"Then, I will ask my team to get ready...we will wrap the body before sending it to the hospital," he said.

He said mental strength also played an important role, especially when finding a decomposed body of a drowned victim who had been missing for more than three days.

Recalling the SAR operation for the victims of the boat capsize incident, off Tanjung Balau, here last month, he said most of the bodies found were still in good condition.

In the incident on Dec 15, a boat, believed to be carrying about 50 illegal immigrants, capsized in the waters of Tanjung Balau at about 4.30 am.

The number of victims drowned in the boat capsize remains at 21 people, with 13 rescued and more than 16 still feared missing.

"If this operation is dragged on for up to seven days, the situation will be different," he said.

-- BERNAMA