HULU SELANGOR: The Fire and Rescue Department is working with the management of the Sungai Selangor Dam to temporarily suspend the release of water to facilitate the search for three people still missing in Sungai Pertak.
Its operations division director Datuk Abdul Razak Muda said this necessary to prevent sudden changes in water currents that could widen the search area and complicate efforts to locate the victims.
"To facilitate the search and keep the search area contained, we have communicated with the dam management to ensure that water releases remain suspended until all the victims are found," he told a media conference at the department's forward control post at Jambatan Pertak here on Wednesday (Nov 11).
He said the search area covered approximately 3.5km from the incident site to the dam, with the current flowing from Sector D towards Sectors C, B and A.
The area has been divided into four sectors, with Sectors A, B and D each covering one kilometre, while Sector C spans between 500m and 600m.
Meanwhile, five drones belonging to the police the department have been deployed to assist in the search, particularly in areas that are difficult for rescue personnel to access.
Department air division assistant superintendent Muhammad Alif Abdul Ghani said drone operations began at 2pm on Tuesday (Nov 10) and continues on Wednesday, scheduled from 8am to 7pm.
He said each drone can operate for approximately 45 minutes per flight, allowing rescuers to inspect areas obscured from ground level and obtain a clearer picture of the terrain, adding certain areas are inaccessible on foot.
Muhammad Alif said drones operations covered four search sectors, from the location where the victims were swept away to Jambatan Pertak and the Sungai Selangor Dam.
Separately, Selangor Fire and Rescue Department operations assistant director Ashrul Riezal Asbar said search efforts had yet to yield any results as of noon on Wednesday.
He said the three missing victims are believed to be upstream of Jambatan Pertak, as they could have been caught in obstacles or debris traps along the river.
"Today's operation is also assisted by two K9 unit dogs, Frankie and Denti, who conduct searches lasting about 20 minutes per session," he said.
He said 124 personnel from various agencies, including firemen, police, Civil Defence Force, the Health Ministry and non-governmental organisations, were involved.
The SAR operation is expected to continue until 6pm, depending on weather conditions.
In the incident at about 5.30pm on Monday, eight people were swept away by strong currents, comprising one Malaysian and seven foreign nationals.
Five victims were found drowned, including Malaysian V. Vijayan, 36, Nepalese national Kapali, 49, and Indian national B. Kunjanmalayil, 35. The identities of the other two victims, an Indian and a Sri Lankan, are still being confirmed.
The search continues for the remaining three victims, comprising two Indian nationals and a Yemeni. – Bernama
