ANOTHER body was found this morning, believed to be that of the ninth victim of the water surge tragedy at Jeram Air Putih, Chukai.

Kemaman district police chief Hanyan Ramlan said the body, believed to be that of a man, was found at 9.20am on a sandbank in Sector A of the search and rescue (SAR) operation areas, 2km from the scene of the water surge incident.

“The body was recovered at 11.20am, two hours after it was found.

“The victim is yet to be identified and the body has been sent to the Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital,” he told reporters.

Hanyan said although the victim’s identity had not been ascertained, police have not ruled out the possibility the body is that of Muhammad Fikri Saliman, 24, from Batu Pahat, Johor. 

He said the SAR operation will continue with a focus on Sector A to locate the last victim.

Meanwhile, Terengganu Fire and Rescue Department Zone 2 chief Azman Alias said search efforts will continue 1km from where the victim’s vehicle was found and “sweeping” work will be carried out again in Sector A.

“The water level of the river has returned to normal due to today’s favourable weather conditions, and this will help facilitate SAR operations,” he said.

The media reported that 10 individuals, including a family of nine, went missing after they were swept away by a water surge during a picnic at the waterfall last Saturday. – Bernama, July 7, 2023.