PETALING JAYA: Nineteen individuals who were reported stranded during a water surge incident at Sungai Pertak, Hulu Selangor on Monday (Nov 9) have been rescued.
However, the search and rescue operation is still ongoing to locate eight other people reported missing after they were swept away by strong currents.
The incident, which occurred at about 5.55pm, involved 34 people in separate groups, including seven who were reported safe.
Selangor Fire and Rescue Department operations assistant director Ashrul Riezal Asbar said the department received its first distress call at 6.37pm involving five Yemenis who were hiking in the area.
He said one of them was swept away by the current while the other four were safe.
A team of firefighters from the Kuala Kubu Bharu Fire and Rescue Station was dispatched to the scene following the report.
"Three minutes later, we received another report involving seven people comprising a local, a Sri Lankan, a Nepalese and four Indians, who were swept away by the strong currents.
"Another seven people were stranded," he said in a statement on Tuesday (Nov 10).
Ashrul Riezal said all 19 stranded individuals at three locations Lata Jerlus, Kem Luit and Gunung Rajah were successfully brought to safety.
"The search and rescue (SAR) operation is still ongoing to locate the eight people reported missing after being swept away by the strong currents," he said.
ENDS
Tags: Hulu Selangor, Sungai Pertak, water surge, missing hikers, stranded hikers, search and rescue operation, Selangor Fire and Rescue Department, JBPM, Ashrul Riezal Asbar, safe
