JOHOR BARU: Authorities are intensifying efforts to locate an eight-year-old boy who was swept away by strong currents after falling into a large drain in Bandar Baru Uda, Tampoi here on Friday (Nov 15).
Johor Baru North OCPD Asst Comm Balveer Singh said the incident occurred at 3.51pm.
“The boy had been playing near the drain with two friends, aged seven and eight, when he reportedly slipped into the water.
“He was last seen being carried by the currents towards a larger drainage area near the Warda Mart supermarket,” he said in a statement on Saturday (Nov 16).
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He added that the emergency teams, including police, the Fire and Rescue Department, and the Malaysian Civil Defence Force (APM), have launched a joint search operation.
“A command post has been set up at the scene to coordinate efforts, which cover the drain area and nearby rivers,” he said.
He added that the case is being handled under a missing person report and the police are urging anyone with information to come forward to aid in the search.
In light of the incident, ACP Balveer also issued a reminder to parents to closely monitor their children, particularly during the monsoon season, and to keep them away from dangerous areas such as rivers and drains.
Meanwhile, Senior Fire Officer I KUP Nordatul Badrol Abd Rahman said in a separate statement that the water was eight feet deep where the victim disappeared and it was raining at the time, reported Bernama.
He said the Operation Release Team (PKO) conducted a search using the 'search surface' method from the point last seen all the way to Sungai Skudai in Kampung Usaha Jaya.
"Meanwhile, the second search action is with the help of villagers' boats to search in the estuary area near the garbage trap," he said.
