CHUKAI, July 3 — The second-day search and rescue operation (SAR) for the remaining eight victims missing in the water surge incident in Jeram Mawar, Air Putih, near here, resumed at 9am today.
Seven of the missing victims are related. They are Karim Abdullah, 39; Putri Balqis Izzati Abdul Rahman, 18; Putri Alleya Maisarah Karim, 16, Putri Nor Fatin Karim, 14 Putri Nurerina Natasya Karim, 10; Muhammad Haziq Ziqree Karim, six,and Putri Aryana Umaira Karim, four.
The other is Putri Balqis Izzati’s fiance, Muhammad Fikri Saliman, 24, from Batu Pahat, Johor, who had joined the family during the picnic outing last Saturday.
Kemaman district police chief Supt Hanyan Ramlan was reported having said that two bodies were recovered yesterday.
The first body found was identified as Azizah Eiyi, 40, while the second was that of her son Muhammad Zulqarnain Haikal Karim, 11.
The search and rescue operation was called off at 6 pm yesterday due to poor weather conditions.
Hanyan said the SAR operation of the eight missing victims today has been divided into three sectors with a search radius of 32km.
The first sector involves an area of up to 8km from the location of the incident, the second sector is the area from Air Putih Police Station to Sungai Pinang Dam (up to 15 km), while the third covers the area from Sungai Pinang towards the mouth of Sungai Kemaman (15 km above).
“The search radius has increased to 32 km because of the strong current caused by heavy rain last night,” he said at a press conference at the Operations Control Centre at Air Putih Police Station, here, today.
He said the SAR team comprising 163 members from various agencies led by the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) has yet to find any clue on the victims’ whereabouts.
He said the SAR team involved a total of 30 police personnel, JBPM (65), General Operations Force (GOF) (46), Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM) (four), non-governmental organisations (four) and a technical special force consisting of nine members of the public, adding the team is also being assisted by tracker dogs from JBPM’s K9 unit.
Hanyan urged villagers in the area to contact the police if they find any leads to assist the SAR mission.
Meanwhile, Terengganu JBPM director Hassan ‘As’ari said the search would be focused on the first sector today involving those from the police, JBPM and GOF, taking into consideration the first and second victims were found in the sector.
Hassan said the team would look at various elements in detail, especially involving the safety of the SAR team members due to the strong river current.
“Regarding access to the location, we have a strategy, in addition to deploying a team every five to seven km to search the surrounding areas,” he said.
— Bernama
