HULU SELANGOR, Nov 10 (Bernama) —The bodies of five people swept away by a water surge at Sungai Pertak in Kuala Kubu Bharu, Selangor, yesterday have been found, while three others remain missing.
Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant director of operations Ashrul Riezal Asbar said the body of the first victim, Malaysian V. Vijayan, 36, was found near Pertak Bridge at 1.30 am, about 2.7 kilometres downstream from where he was swept away at Lata Jebus.
He said rescuers found four more bodies near Senget Bridge, about one kilometre from Lata Jebus, at 9.20 am, although the victims’ identities and nationalities have yet to be established.
“The first victim’s body has been handed over to the police for identification at the forensic unit, while efforts are under way to retrieve the other bodies found this morning,” he told reporters at the incident command post here today.
He said the search and rescue (SAR) operation resumed at 7 am, with teams deployed across four search sectors.
He said Sectors A and B covered an area extending about two kilometres from Lata Jebus, while Sectors C and D focused on areas beneath the bridge and around the dam.
Ashrul Riezal said strong currents were hampering the operation, with rescuers having to wait three to four hours for the water to recede before conducting surface searches.
“Time is also a constraint, with rain expected in the afternoon due to the Northeast Monsoon. Rescuers are making the most of the favourable weather until about 1 pm to carry out the search,” he said.
In the incident at about 5.30 pm yesterday, eight people comprising a Yemeni, a Malaysian, a Sri Lankan, a Nepalese and four Indian nationals were swept away by strong currents.
Another 26 people from several groups taking part in recreational and hiking activities were stranded near the river before being rescued.
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