Vehicle found 1.5km downstream in Klang River as rescue teams continue search for missing worker in KL
PETALING JAYA: Rescue teams have successfully located the four-wheel drive Pajero belonging to a worker who went missing after being swept away by a flash flood in Klang River near Saloma Link yesterday, though the victim remains unaccounted for.
The vehicle was discovered approximately 1.5 kilometres downstream from the incident site at around 8.30am today as search and rescue (SAR) operations resumed following the tragic incident.
Dang Wangi District police chief Assistant Commissioner Sazalee Adam confirmed that the Pajero was found empty after water levels in the river dropped by nearly one metre overnight.
“Weather conditions today are more favourable, and SAR operations will continue until 7pm. The discovery of the vehicle helps us refocus on the current patterns that may have carried the victim,” Sazalee told Kosmo when met at the scene today.
He added that the vehicle has been handed over to the company that owns it.
The search operation has mobilised significant resources from multiple agencies, with all available assets from the Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM), Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM), and Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) deployed to aid in the recovery effort.
“We have 21 divers divided into four search zones. Drones, small boats, and kayaks are being used to survey nearly 20 kilometres of the Klang River,” Sazalee explained.
The search area has been divided into four zones, with operations extending beyond Selangor’s boundaries as rescue teams work systematically to locate the missing worker.
Sazalee confirmed that the victim’s mobile phone, which was reportedly still ringing yesterday, is no longer active. However, police continue to gather clues to narrow the search scope.
“Yesterday the current was strong, but today the water is calmer, clearer, and less dangerous for divers. The four search sectors established since yesterday continue, with the 20-kilometre route being thoroughly examined,” he said.
He added that any suspicious river structures or obstacles will be designated as priority areas for divers to conduct detailed searches.
The incident occurred at approximately 5.40pm yesterday when a sudden surge of water struck workers conducting improvement works along Klang River near Saloma Link in the city centre.
According to earlier reports, 13 workers were on duty at the location when the flash flood hit. Twelve of them were successfully rescued, while one worker was swept away by the powerful current.
The flash flood caught the workers off guard as they were performing routine maintenance and upgrading work on the river. The sudden rise in water levels, typical of flash floods during heavy rainfall, created dangerous conditions that left little time for evacuation.
Search and rescue teams are working against time to locate the missing worker, with operations intensified as weather conditions improve. The calmer waters today have allowed divers to conduct more thorough underwater searches compared to yesterday’s treacherous conditions.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about the missing worker to come forward and assist in the ongoing search efforts.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by workers conducting essential maintenance in river systems, particularly during the monsoon season when sudden weather changes can create life-threatening situations.
