HULU SELANGOR: Recurring water surges triggered by heavy rain on Wednesday (Nov 11) afternoon have disrupted the search for two people still missing at the Sungai Pertak picnic site in Kuala Kubu Baharu, as the operation entered its fourth day Thursday (Nov 12).
Hulu Selangor OCPD Supt M. Manimaran said unpredictable weather and several deep pools along Sungai Luit had hampered rescue efforts.
He said Thursday's operation involved about 108 personnel from the police, Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) and Civil Defence Force.
"Four boats were deployed in today's operation, supported by the K9 Detection Unit and the police Air Operations Force, which used drones to extend aerial surveillance," he said at a press conference on the latest developments in the SAR operation.
Manimaran said the sixth victim, a man, was found floating near the river mouth close to Pertak Bridge at about 10.30am Thursday, some 1.3km from the incident command post. The body was taken to Sungai Buloh Hospital for a post-mortem and identification.
He said the body of another victim, a local man, was handed over to the family on Thursday for burial, while five others remained at the hospital pending post-mortem examinations and identification. Two victims were still missing.
Meanwhile, Rawang Zone Fire and Rescue chief Mustakim Rimon said the operation also used the sniff-and-dive technique, with the Water Rescue Team and sniffer dogs deployed on rescue boats.
He said a search in Sector A, prompted by an Orang Asli resident's report of a smell believed to be coming from a body, had yielded no new leads.
He said the search covered four sectors, A to D, stretching from Lata Jebus to Pertak Bridge and Sungai Selangor Dam, with the next phase focusing on Sector C.
Eight men, comprising one local and seven foreign nationals from Yemen, Sri Lanka, Nepal and India, went missing after being swept away by strong currents at about 5.30pm on Monday. - Bernama
