Selangor Journal
Search and rescue personnel during the search operation at Jeram Air Putih, Terengganu on July 3, 2023. — Picture by JBPM TERENGGANU

Water surge tragedy: Last two victims believe to be in Zones A, B search areas

CHUKAI, July 6 — The search-and-rescue (SAR) operations team looking for the last two victims of the Jeram Air Putih water surge incident believe they are in the Zone A and Zone B search areas.

Terengganu Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) Zone 2 chief Senior Superintendent II Azman Alias said the SAR, which entered its fifth day today, showed no new leads.

“For today’s search, we covered the entire sectors of A, B, and C. We have dived, but there are no new leads or positive clues.

“However, we believe that the two remaining victims are still in Zone A and Zone B. There is a possibility that they are in the water or on land,” he told a press conference at the Air Putih police station, earlier today.

Zone A (the location of the incident) is from Menara Sapura until the Kampung Teladas bridge, while Zone B starts from the back of SMK Ayer Putih towards the corn farm at the forward control post until the Sungai Pinang garbage trap area.

Azman said the SAR operation today was suspended at 5pm and will resume at 9am tomorrow.

For tomorrow’s SAR operation, the scope of the search will be reduced and more targeted in areas of high probability, using K9 sniffer dogs and the JBPM water rescue team (PPDA).

“Tomorrow’s search efforts will focus on ‘points’ that we will establish later. We will focus on areas that have ‘points of interest’ with the K9 unit and PPDA,” he said.

The two victims still missing are Putri Nur Fatin Karim, 14, and Muhammad Fikri Saliman, 24, from Batu Pahat, Johor.

The bodies of eight victims from last Saturday’s water surge tragedy have been recovered.

— Bernama

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