KUALA KUBU BARU: Another body believed to be that of a victim of the Sungai Pertak water surge tragedy was found near the Selangor Dam this morning, bringing the number of recovered bodies to six, with two people still missing.
The unidentified body was found at 10.15am in the vicinity of the dam, near Sungai Luit and the Sungai Pertak picnic area.
It was then taken to the incident control post for further action.
Selangor Fire and Rescue Department assistant operations director Ashrul Riezal Asbar said today’s search and rescue (SAR) operation also focused on Sector A after a possible scent of a victim was detected in the area.
He said two K9 sniffer dogs were deployed there, near the location where four victims were found on Wednesday.
“The SAR team surveyed the area yesterday afternoon after receiving information from an Orang Asli villager who had passed through the location while returning from his farm.
“During the survey, we detected intermittent odours in the area but could not cross the river as the water level remained high, about two metres above normal,” he said today.
Ashrul Riezal said the SAR operation began at 7am, with several teams deployed across different sectors to widen the search area.
The department’s Water Rescue Team (PPDA) searched Sectors A and B, from Lata Jebus to the incident control post at the Sungai Pertak picnic area.
Meanwhile, firemen, volunteer fire brigades and the Civil Defence Force focused on Sectors B and C, near the Selangor Dam.
“Five boats were also deployed to monitor river conditions and clear debris from the water surface in Sectors C and D following the accumulation of rubbish swept downstream by a second water surge yesterday afternoon.
“Drones were also used to conduct aerial surveillance along an approximately 3.5km stretch,” he said.
In Monday’s incident, eight men were swept away by strong currents at 5.30pm.
A local victim was found at 1.30am on Wednesday near Pertak Bridge, about 2.7km from the incident site at Lata Jebus.
Four other victims, all foreigners, were found later that morning near Jambatan Senget and Jambatan Gantung, about 950m to 1km from the site.
A total of 34 people from four groups were involved in the incident. Eight men were swept away, while the remaining 26 managed to escape or were rescued by firefighters.
Lata Jebus is believed to be where seven of the eight victims were swept away, while the remaining victim was believed to have been caught in the current near the Sungai Pertak picnic area.