Search and rescue teams face murky waters and strong currents while looking for a missing boat victim and an elderly woman in Kelantan.
GUA MUSANG: Search and rescue (SAR) personnel face challenges from murky water, unknown river depths, and strong currents carrying debris as they look for Mohd Ilham Che Mat Satar, 27, who went missing after his boat capsized in Sungai Galas near Kampung Batu 6 yesterday.
Gua Musang Fire and Rescue Station chief Senior Assistant Fire Superintendent Muhamad Azrul Izzham Zulkifli said today’s operation, which began at 7 am, was reinforced by the K9 Tracker Dog Unit and the Water Rescue Team (PPDA).
He said the search operation involved eight PPDA personnel, three K9 handlers with a tracker dog named Denti, and 11 officers from the Gua Musang Fire and Rescue Station.
“Search efforts used the surface search method within a radius of less than three kilometres from the incident site.
“The murky state of Sungai Galas and its unknown depth pose significant challenges to the rescue team,” he told reporters at the scene today.
Muhamad Azrul Izzham said that upon arriving at the location yesterday, the fire team found the victim’s boat capsized, but there was no sign of the victim.
Ramli said rain since early morning caused the water level in Sungai Galas to rise, with strong currents carrying rubbish and debris downstream.
Mohd Ilham, a welder, was reported missing yesterday afternoon after his boat capsized in Sungai Galas near Kampung Batu 6.
In a separate incident near KOTA BHARU, the SAR operation for an elderly woman believed to have fallen into Sungai Pengkalan Datu near Kampung Wakaf Stan was extended to over six kilometres from the incident site today.
Pasir Tumboh Fire and Rescue Station chief Senior Assistant Fire Superintendent Juhari Ahmad said the operation involved personnel from the fire department, the Teluk Jembal and Pasir Tumboh Volunteer Fire Brigades, and the police. It included sweeps on land and along the riverbanks, but no leads have been found.
“Today, the search continued with local residents’ help and may extend further downstream, including shrubs along the riverbanks. With fair weather, we hope the SAR operation proceeds smoothly. We appeal to the public to come forward with any information,” he told Bernama today.
Yesterday, the fire department launched a SAR operation for the woman in her 60s, who is suspected to have fallen into the river.
