Three drown in water surge disaster near Lahad Datu

Safe with their heroes: Rescued trekkers (behind) sitting with Fire and Rescue Department personnel after the search operation. — Pic courtesy of Lahad Datu Fire and Rescue Department

KOTA KINABALU: Three people drowned while 12 others escaped in a water surge incident at Mak Sina valley in Sabah’s east coast of Lahad Datu.

The three dead – two trekkers and a river trail guide – were part of a 15-member group that had gone on a river-hiking excursion at Sungai Makuou in Tungku at 9am on Sunday.

The group comprised 11 local trekkers, including three women, from an oil palm company, accompanied by four guides who were foreigners with passports.

They had gone to the valley adventure seekers have dubbed the “Lost World of Mak Sina,” located about 100km from Lahad Datu town. The scenic area is considered treacherous for trekkers.

Lahad Datu police chief Asst Comm Dzulbaharin Ismail said the police were alerted to the incident through a Malaysian Emergency Rescue Services 999 call at 8.30pm.

He said they were notified that 12 people were trapped on the other side of the river due to a sudden gush of water during the trek.

A police team was deployed and reached the location at 10.30pm, he said, adding they then commenced search-and-rescue efforts together with firemen and personnel from the Civil Defence Force.

“Firemen rescued nine trekkers and three guides before they were sent for treatment at the Tungku clinic.

“Three people drowned, comprising two trekkers including a woman and a guide,” he added.

ACP Dzulbaharin said the river-hiking activity was not approved by the state Forestry Department or the Fire and Rescue Department, adding the Tungku police were also not notified of the excursion.

“The public is advised to be careful when partaking in such activities and must also obtain approval from the authorities including the police before doing so, as entering the site of the incident within the Silabukan forest reserve without prior approval is an offence,” he said.

ACP Dzulbaharin added that it is believed that the guides were not properly trained in river hiking.

Anxious family members gathered at the makeshift operation centre, located some 4km from the place of incident, where they had waited for word on the victims.

Confusion also arose when some of the victims went home straight after the incident.

Police had to locate them to verify that they were safe.

Lahad Datu Fire and Rescue Department station chief Sumsoa Rashid said the operation was called off yesterday after it was confirmed that no one else was missing.

He said rescuers brought nine people to safety while two other members of the group, who were injured, managed to escape on their own.

The injured duo had made the distress call, he added.

“We found three bodies under a pile of wood at 1.37am,” Sumsoa said.