KUALA TERENGGANU: The search and rescue (SAR) operation for the victims of the tragic Jeram Air Putih water surge incident in Kemaman has now covered a distance of 59.1km downstream, reaching the Sungai Kemaman basin. Terengganu Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department director, Hassan ‘As’ari Omar, admitted that despite their efforts, they have not yet found any new leads in the search for the remaining victim, Putri Nor Fatin Karim, 14 years old. “To date, only nine victims have been found. The integrated search operation has concluded, but the Cheneh and Chukai Fire and Rescue Stations are still on the hunt,” he revealed at the Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) Care Fire Awareness program held at the Kuala Terengganu Fire and Rescue Station on Wednesday, July 12. The search team managed to discover a sling bag on Monday, July 10, believed to belong to one of the victims, offering a glimmer of hope in an otherwise arduous operation. Director Hassan ‘As’ari Omar took the opportunity to urge the public, particularly the villagers near the incident, to provide any relevant information that could aid in their search operation. The incident occurred on July 1, when Karim Abdullah, 39 years old, his wife Azizah Eiyi, 40 years old, and their seven children, including 14-year-old Putri Nor Fatin, had gone for a picnic along with Muhammad Fikri Saliman, 24 years old, at Jeram Air Putih, Felda Lepar Hilir 3, Kuantan, Pahang. Tragically, all of them were swept away by the sudden water surge. The SAR operation officially began on July 2, after villagers discovered the bodies of Azizah and her son Muhammad Zulqarnain Haikal Karim, 11 years old, some distance from the scene. So far, nine victims have been laid to rest. – Bernama
Credit: The Star : News Feed
