SG BULOH DROWNING VICTIMS FOUND

Last of 5 recovered nearly 24 hours after they were swept away

AFTER an exhaustive, round-the-clock search, the last of the bodies of the five anglers swept away by strong currents in Sungai Gasi was recovered yesterday.

The body of Rapawi Jum’ada, 37, was found at 4.35pm, nearly 24 hours after he and four others were swept away by raging currents.

Rapawi’s body was found 24km from where the victims had been swept away.

District police chief Superintendent S. Somu said Rapawi’s body was found floating in the river near a bridge at Desa Coalfields leading to Puncak Alam.

“The fourth body to be recovered was that of Jeleha Hashim, 48, which was found at 3.45pm.”

Jeleha’s remains were found at bushes near Desa Coalfields, 19km downriver from where the incident happened.

The body of Silawati Zailan, 31, had been found at 12.30pm, about 10.6km away.

Nearly 12 hours earlier, at 1.25am, the body of Jamaluddin Rapawi, 14, was recovered.

The first victim found was a 38year-old Indonesian man known only as Hashir, at 9.50pm on Monday, a little more than four hours after the incident.

It was reported that the five were among several people fishing in the river at 5.40pm when the water levels began to rise rapidly due to what was believed to be a downpour upriver.

At least three people made it to safety.

Somu said the bodies were sent to Sungai Buloh Hospital for a post-mortem.

“After the post-mortem and identification, the remains will be released for burial.”

Fire and Rescue Department site operations chief Yusri Basri said the bodies were found in good condition and fully clothed.

About 200 people from various government agencies were involved in the operation.

Paya Jaras assemblyman Khairuddin Othman urged the public to be careful when taking part in water activities.

“We have asked the state Drainage and Irrigation Department to fence off locations considered dangerous.”

Page 1 pic: The husband of Silawati Zailan being consoled as her body is recovered by Fire and Rescue personnel in Sungai Buloh yesterday.