About 1,000 volunteers from the Kelantan Civil Defence Department (JPAM) are now placed on standby in facing floods during the monsoon season, which is expected to start any time.

Its director, Zainuddin Hussin said the department had been making preparations since early this month in facing the monsoon season, which was expected to end in March next year.

"We have about 20 boats to be used in rescue and evacuation operations throughout the state. Each district is supplied with two boats for the purpose," he said when contacted, here, today.

"There are also six land vehicles like lorries, vans and ambulances for use in the rescue operations."

Zainuddin said besides volunteers from among the public, the department would also deploy a team of Civil Defence volunteers from among undergraduates of Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Machang campus and Universiti Sains Malaysia in Kubang Kerian to assist flood victims.

According to him, among the high-risk areas were Rantau Panjang, Pasir Mas and Pasir Puteh.