Pahang floods claim first victim

KUANTAN: The floods in Pahang claimed its first victim on Friday (Dec 17) when a factory operator was found dead nearly three hours after he was reported to have fallen from his motorcycle while attempting to ride through floodwater on a road near a Chinese cemetery in Gambang near here.

Kuantan OCPD Asst Comm Wan Mohd Zahari Wan Busu said the victim, identified as M. Gunalan, 38, from Taman Gambang Makmur here, was found at 2.22 pm Tuesday, about 100m from the location he was last seen.

“According to witnesses, he tried to ride through the rushing water there at 11.30am before he fell when his motorcycle went out of control and he was swept away by strong currents.

“Several people nearby tried to rescue him but failed because of the very strong currents,” he said when contacted here Friday.

ACP Wan Zahari said the body was sent to the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital here for a post-mortem.

A search-and-rescue operation for the victim was carried out involving four policemen and 24 firemen using a fibreglass boat, lorry and a four-wheel-drive vehicle, he added.

Early this morning, several areas in Kuantan were flooded due to continuous heavy rain since last night in the towns of Sungai Lembing, Kampung Kempadang, Sungai Soi and Kampung Bugis.

Several roads were also inundated including in Jalan Gambang, Jalan Air Putih and Jalan Pintasan Kuantan but the floodwaters had receded by afternoon.

Several trees in the district were also uprooted by strong winds. - Bernama