Chronology of drowning cases since 2017
KUALA LUMPUR: The country was shocked by the drowning tragedies which have claimed many lives in the past few days with the latest case involving five anglers who were swept away by strong currents in Sungai Gasi near Sungai Buloh Camp near here on Monday.
The fifth and final drowning victim was found by the search and rescue team at 4.35 pm yesterday.
Following is the chronology of drowning cases that have claimed many lives since last year:
Jan 1 : A 12-year-old boy and his two friends, both aged 15, who went fishing at Sungai Pedas, Kampung Merbau 9, Pedas, Rembau, were found drowned.
Feb 16 : - i. An outing to Pantai Tok Bali in Pasir Puteh, Kelantan in conjunction with the Chinese New Year holidays turned into a tragedy for a family when five of them, aged between five and 46, drowned while bathing in the beach.
- ii. Three men including two siblings aged between 20 and 25 drowned during a picnic at Sungai Sendat waterfalls in Ulu Yam, Kuala Kubu Bharu. One of them slipped and fell into the river and the other two tried to save him but failed in the attempt.
Feb 18 : The bodies of five men, aged between 40 and 50, who jumped into a river to escape a police raid at a cockfighting gambling den were found floating in Sungai Muda, Kuala Ketil, Kedah.
Feb 19 : Two youths, both aged 22 years, from Klang, Selangor were found drowned while bathing with their friends in the Berkelah waterfalls in Gambang, Kuantan. 2017
Feb 4 : Three children, aged between seven and 12, drowned in a disused bauxite mining pool in Taman Sungai Karang Jaya, Kuantan, Pahang.
Feb 25 : Two youths, both aged 20 years, drowned whiled bathing in the Berkelah waterfalls in Gambang, Kuantan.
March 17 : Eight children aged between nine and 12, were swept away by strong currents while they were fishing at the tributary of Sungai Selangor in Kampung Sungai Timah, Bukit Beruntung, Hulu Selangor. One of them survived, while seven drowned.
April 29 : Three teenagers, who were on a school camping trip, drowned while out trekking at a manmade stream at a resort in Membakut, Beaufort, Kota Kinabalu. The students of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Putatan, were found to be in an unconscious state by a teacher at a deeper part of the water at about 9.30 am.
They were brought to a nearby hospital by first responders but were pronounced dead on arrival.
June 29 : Two sisters aged 13 and 21 years from Parit Buntar, Perak, drowned while eight other people were rescued after an incoming tide caused them to get into difficulties in the water off Pantai Janglau 2, Batu 5, Rompin.
Eight other relatives were plucked out of the water by other members of the family, who numbered about 20 in all, and the public.The family members had come to the beach for a picnic in conjunction with the Aidilfitri holidays.
July 22 : A 46-year-old man, his 17-year-old son and his 15-year-old nephew drowned while bathing in a vicinity of a sand pump area off Sungai Lipis, Batu 13 Ladang Benta, in Kuala Lipis.
Sept 7 : Two friends aged 12 and 18 years who were swept away by strong currents while fishing at Sungai Seduan near Lorong Permai Jaya 1F/3, Taman Permai Jaya, Sibu, found drowned.
Oct 13 : Four girls, aged between five and 12, who went to the Kampung Buku waterfalls in Lubuk Semilang, Langkawi with their respective family members, were bathing when they were suddenly swept away by strong currents.
Nov 1 : Two Form One students drowned after being swept away by strong currents while crossing a drain near a school in Taman Yarl near Jalan Klang Lama here.
The bodies were found in Kampung Muhibah mining area, about one km from the scene.
Nov 15 : Siblings aged six and 10, who went out fishing were found drowned after they slipped and fell into the catchment pond at Kampung Padang Lalang, Juaseh, Jempol.