Fire Dept expands SAR ops to find missing boy and man

Members of the Fire and Rescue Dept Multi-Skill Team searching for 10-year-old Muhammad Riqullah in a waterway at Sungai Kemensah on Feb 12. The SAR operation has been expanded to a 3km radius. – BERNAMApic

KUALA LUMPUR: The search and rescue (SAR) operation to locate a boy feared to have drowned after falling into a drain in Ukay Perdana here has been expanded to a 3km radius from the incident site.

Selangor Fire and Rescue Department director Datuk Norazam Khamis said the team searched for Muhammad Riqullah Mohd Shafie, 10, up to the border of the SMART tunnel but did not find any sign of him.

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"We are facing difficulties because the currents are too strong,” he said here on Monday (Feb 13).

On Saturday (Feb 11), an eight-year-old boy identified as Wan Muhammad Ammar Wan Mohd Noor Hafizan was found drowned after being swept away by currents in a drain at Jalan Ukay Perdana, Ampang.

Norazam said the department had also expanded the SAR operation for a man, feared to have drowned in Sungai Pisang, Batu 12 Gombak here on Sunday (Feb 12), to a 2km radius.

ALSO READ: Man drowns after swimming with friends at Sungai Pisang, Gombak

"The operation involving 10 firefighters resumed at 8am Monday to locate the victim,” he said.

At the time of the incident, the victim and his friend were bathing in the river before being carried away by strong currents following heavy rain.

The friend was rescued after being found stranded on the riverbank. – Bernama