Johor floods claim second victim after 20-year-old man's car swept away by strong currents

JOHOR BARU: A 20-year-old man was killed after his car was swept away in the floods at Kampung Niyor in Kluang.

Kluang Fire and Rescue Department operation commander Akob Sedek said that they received a distress call on the incident at 11.24am Monday (Jan 4).

“Upon arriving, we found that the victim’s car had been swept away by the strong water currents. The car was later found in a 4m-deep drain but the victim was not in the car.

“The victim's body was later found about 51m away from his car, ” he said.

He said the victim was declared dead by medical officers at the scene and that his body has been handed over to the police for further action.

Meanwhile, Kluang OCPD Asst Comm Low Hang Seng said that the victim, identified as Ikmal Hakimi Mahasan, had been reported missing since Sunday (Jan 3).

“The victim’s family had filed a missing persons report when he did not return home after leaving a friend’s house Sunday morning.

“A search and rescue (SAR) mission was later initiated around the victim’s house, Kampung Bentong as well as along the road between Kampung Melayu Nyior and Kampung Bentong, ” he said.

This is the second death reported in Johor since the state was hit by floods.

The first death was of a 59-year-old woman who fell into a drain along Jalan Setia in Kampung Contoh in Kluang.