Kemaman water surge: Search mission called of due to bad weather

KUALA TERENGGANU: The search and rescue operation (SAR) for eight missing victims in the Kemaman water surge incident has been called off due to fears that another surge could recur.

Head of Zone 2 of the Terengganu Fire and Rescue Department, Azman Alias said the first day's operations at the Jeram Mawar, Air Putih in Kemaman had to end at 6pm on Sunday (July 2) due to heavy rain at the location.

He said a total of 37 personnel including others from the Dungun, Kemaman, Cheneh and Kemaman district police headquarters and the Civil Defence Force (CDF) were deployed for the SAR operation which started at about 3pm.

"Besides the bad and uncertain weather, we also had to end the SAR operation early because we were worried about the threat of wild animals," he told Bernama, adding that the forest reserve is a habitat for wild animals.

Azman said they expected more personnel and equipment for the SAR operation which will resume at 8am on Monday (July 3).

He said the operation would be assisted by tracking dogs from its K9 Unit and the police department to find the other eight victims.

"We are also asking for the help from the General Operations Force. The use of drones may also be necessary for the search," he said.

In the meantime, he advised the public not to carry out leisure activities at locations due to uncertain weather conditions which could result in water surges.– Bernama