IPOH, Sept 7 — Six individuals, including two children, who were reported missing while trekking along the Gunung Trans Gerah trail in Lojing, Gua Musang, have managed to make contact this afternoon and reported that they are safe.

Gerik police chief Supt Abdul Samad Othman said information regarding the group’s condition was received at about 5.30 pm today after a family member managed to contact one of the mountain guides accompanying the group.

“We can only confirm that the victims have been contacted, and they informed their family members that they are safe.

“However, we have not found the victims yet because they are still at the climbing location, and the rescue team will move to meet them before bringing them out either today or tomorrow, as they are believed to be within the Perak area,” he said when contacted today.

He added that the exact condition of all the victims, including the possibility of any injuries, cannot be confirmed until the rescue team successfully locates them.

Abdul Samad said the method for extracting the group - whether by land or air - will be determined based on their condition and location after the SAR team manages to meet the victims.

“If conditions permit, we will see whether to use a helicopter or land routes; we will assess the situation when the rescue team meets the hikers later. The SAR process will only end after all the victims are successfully brought down,” he said.

Previously, Wan Ahmad Aslam Wan Zairudin, 39, and his wife Siti Zulaiha Norizan, 39, along with their children Diya Raisha, 13, and Ahmad Raef, 9, as well as two mountain guides Shafiee Sidek, 49, and Hazman Mamat, 43, were reported missing after trekking the mountain on Aug 29.

They were reported to have failed to exit the forest by their scheduled date of Sept 3, and family members lodged a police report yesterday.

Meanwhile, Perak Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) director Datuk Sayani Saidon said smoke signals detected during an aerial survey by a JBPM helicopter helped the SAR team estimate the location of the six missing hikers in the forested area of Pos Kemar here.

Based on the aerial survey, the location of the hikers was estimated to be about an hour’s journey from Kem Kulim. The JBPM Mi-17 aircraft from the Subang Air Base, which arrived at Pos Kemar at 4.30 pm today, brought 11 SAR personnel comprising five JBPM personnel, four Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) personnel, one Forestry Department officer and one mountain guide.

“The SAR team was also assisted by 14 Malaysian Mountain Guides (MGM), who entered through the hiking trail, bringing the total number of SAR personnel to 25,” she said in a statement today.

Sayani said based on assessments and discussions between JBPM and the Forestry Department, as well as information from the hikers’ last short message service (SMS) on Sept 1, the group was believed to have used the route via Gunung Bieh, Gunung Sepat, Gunung Belatoh, Kampung Agek, Gunung Bongok and subsequently Pos Kemar.

The Forestry Department also received information at 5.15 pm today regarding a message from the hikers informing that all of them had arrived safely at Gunung Bongok.

“The SAR team is now moving to meet the missing hikers in the area, and they are expected to regroup at Kem Kulim tonight. The decision on whether they will be brought out tonight or spend the night at Kem Kulim will depend on their condition and the situation at the location,” she said.

Sayani said the estimated journey for the SAR team, together with the hikers, from Kem Kulim to Pos Kemar was between three and four hours. — Bernama