Rip current occurrence probability at selected recreational beaches along Pahang coastline

Abstract

Purpose Pahang beaches draw more than thousand visitors throughout the year. From the year 2006 to 2018, more than 30 drowning and near-drowning cases were recorded mainly from rip currents. Rip currents are defined as unexpected currents that carried beachgoers away to seaward direction more than approximately 50 m from shore. The prediction of rip current development is very important for the protection of human life. This study aims to conduct preliminary survey and field works to identify rip current hazards. Design/methodology/approach The output would be an early warning preventative mitigation to public in Pahang. Beach state model, dimensionless fall velocity, littoral environment observation and relative tidal range were recorded for five recreational beaches during two different months (March and April 2018). The morphodynamic parameters such sediment fall velocity, sediment grain size and beach slope are then analysed using software PROFILER. Classification of risks was done based on beach morphodynamic model. The morphodynamics are classified as low tide bar rip, barred and low tide terrace associated with rip current, bar dissipative, reflective, non-bar dissipative, low tide terrace and ultra-dissipative. Findings Result shows three out of five recreational beaches may develop high-risk rip currents. During the first month of the survey, Batu Hitam (BH) was recorded the only one recreational beach that may develop high-risk rip current followed by Teluk Cempedak (TC) and Kempadang (KEM) as middle-risk rip current beaches, while Balok (BA) and Sepat (SEP) as low-risk rip current beaches. Different during second month of the survey, BA, BH and SEP were recorded as high-risk rip current beaches while TC and KEM as low-risk rip current beaches. Originality/value The results are consistent with beach incidents (drowning and near-drowning) reported.

Public understanding of rip current and beach safety at Teluk Cempedak Recreational Beach in Pahang, Malaysia

“…In India, drownings due to rips kill 39 people annually (Arun Kumar and Prasad, 2014). Between 2006 and 2018, in Pahang state, 31 cases regarding rip current fatalities were reported as mentioned in Hamsan and Ramli (2020). In particular, Teluk Cempedak Recreational Beach (TCRB) had the highest number of drownings with eight deaths (38.8%) compared to other beaches along the shoreline of Pahang (Mohammed Isa et al, 2021).…”

“…This is because some bathers may consider the rip currents dangerous, while others may not feel the same. To date, studies on rip currents in Malaysia have been focusing on the physical aspects, such as the existence, mechanisms, and effects of the rips, along with methods for escaping (Azhary et al, 2016;Hamsan and Ramli, 2020). However, the problems associated with rip currents have been exacerbated by their complexity (Shaw et al, 2014).…”

A preliminary studies to assess public knowledge of beach safety in east coast Malaysia

“…Similarly, records of drowning accidents along the Pahang coastline were also alarming. From 2006 to 2018, there were 31 victims of drowning accidents including both fatal and hospitalized non-fatal cases (Hamsan and Ramli 2020 ).Specifically, at the Teluk Cempedak Beach, Kuantan, eight deaths and three rescues were reported, the highest number of drowning victims compared to other beaches in the surrounding areas. However, the recorded number does not include under-reported drowning cases.…”

“…Therefore, whether the drowning accidents were related to rip currents could not be precisely determined. However, as claimed by the witnesses of the accidents, most of the victims were carried away from the shore by the currents (Hamsan and Ramli 2020 ). Coupled with panic attacks and poor swimming skills, the rips are believed to be one of the major causes of the increment of drowning-related fatalities.…”

“…Major factors that can be considered in determining the probability of rip currents occurring on beaches include the number of rip-related drowning accidents and the morphodynamic beach state (Hamsan and Ramli 2020 ). Theoretically, beach states are divided into three types which are known as reflective, intermediate, and dissipative.…”