Final farewell to the fallen heroes
‘Firemen lost their lives due to an accident’
The remains of the six firemen who drowned during a search and rescue operation in Puchong on Wednesday being sent off by their comrades from the Section 15 Shah Alam fire station after prayers yesterday.
SHAH ALAM: The operation to rescue the teenager who had fallen into a mining pool in Puchong that resulted in six firemen losing their lives did not breach any of the Fire and Rescue Department’s standard operating procedure, says its director-general Mohammad Hamdan Wahid.
“It was an accident following difficulties encountered by the personnel during the challenging rescue situation,” he told the media after extending his condolences to the affected families.
“Strategy-wise, the operation was in line with the SOP,” he added.
Mohammad Hamdan said initial investigations revealed that the mining pool in Taman Putra Perdana was not suitable for recreational activities.
“There is a flowing stream of water from the floodgate to control water at the pool and the rescue operation took place at the foot of the flowing stream.
“One of the firemen slipped and fell with the others while they were performing the human chain sweeping with ropes and buoys.
“The water was not deep but the undercurrents were strong due to the rain earlier,” he said, adding that the department would conduct a thorough investigation.
The mining pool, he explained, was meant for irrigation management and access to it should have been curtailed.
“The teenager might have slipped and fallen during his activity,” Mohammad Hamdan said. He added that all affected families would receive proper compensation from the department.
Mohammad Hamdan also noted that the search and rescue operation for the 17-yearold resumed despite the loss of the six personnel.
The department, he added, would keep improving on its tactical approaches in future operations.
Selangor Mentri Besar Amirudin Shari, who was present to convey his condolences to the affected families, said he had instructed the Sepang Municipal Council to close the mining pool immediately after the rescue mission was over.
“This is not the first time an incident like this happened at the mining pool.
“The council has been ordered to close off the site to the public,” he said.
Amirudin also said that each of the families of the deceased would receive RM20,000 from the state’s heroes’ fund – Tabung Wira dan Pahlawan.