18 students who went missing during hike on Gunung Jerai found

YAN: A group of Kolej Universiti Insaniah (Kuin) students were found stranded in Gunung Jerai after they were reported missing.

The group, believed to have comprised 18 women and two men, including a guide, had hiked up the mountain from Titi Hayun here at about 10am on Friday and was supposed to come down on Sunday.

However, when they failed to arrive at the foot of the mountain by 6pm Sunday, a friend of one of the hikers lodged a police report at the Yan police station.

Fire and Rescue Department operation chief Nor Arifin Kamari said the department mounted a search operation at 8.50pm Sunday night.

He said the rescue team consisted 35 personnel from police, Civil Defence Department and Forest Rangers.

At about 10pm, the students were found stranded halfway down the mountain and were brought down by the rescue team.

Meanwhile Kuin rector Prof Datuk Mohd Yusof Kasim, when contacted, said the students were believed to have undertaken the activity without the varsity’s knowledge.