LEDANG, Feb 7 — The flood disaster in Johor claimed its first victim when a 14-year-old boy drowned while swimming in a swolled drain at Kampung Tanjung Labuh, here today.

Tangkak Fire and Rescue Department chief said the teenager identified as Abdul Hadi Abdul Hamid was believed to have drowned at about 2.30 pm while swimming with two friends.

He said the department received a distress call from the public at about 2.53 pm and immediately dispatched a fire engine, utility vehicle together with ten personnel to the scene.

“We launched a search for the victim at about 3.06 pm and eight minutes later our men managed to locate him at the bottom of the 3.6-metre deep drain,” he said when contacted today.

The Ledang district was hit by floods following heavy rains yesterday and as of noon today, 59 victims had been evacuated to Sekolah Kebangsaan Sialang Tengah here. — Bernama