KUALA KRAI, Aug 13 — K9 sniffer dog Frankie from the Kuala Lumpur Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) headquarters has been deployed to assist the search and rescue (SAR) operation for 14-year-old student Mohd Rayyan Hakimi Mohd Yusmiza, who has been missing since Tuesday.
Kelantan JBPM Operations Division assistant director Mohd Fadhlizil Ikram Ahmad Pauzi said Frankie was deployed to search along the riverbank as the SAR operation entered its third day today for the teenager, who is feared drowned in Sungai Kelantan near Kampung Aur Duri here.
“The operation is focusing on searching along the river, in addition to diving at several locations identified as areas of interest.
“The Water Rescue Team (PPDA) has also been deployed to conduct diving operations,” he told Bernama at the scene here today.
He said today’s SAR operation had been expanded to a four-kilometre radius, involving 63 personnel and volunteers from JBPM, the Royal Malaysia Police, Malaysian Civil Defence Force, Malaysia Volunteer Corps Department and villagers.
Mohd Fadhlizil Ikram said 12 boats had also been deployed, while the PPDA operation involved six personnel from the Machang, Pengkalan Kubor and Pengkalan Chepa Fire and Rescue Stations.
“The SAR operation is facing several challenges, particularly strong river currents and rising water levels, which are hampering the movement of personnel and the search for the victim, especially along the riverbed,” he said.
A Bernama check at the scene today found rescue personnel and villagers continuing to search along the river by boat, while PPDA personnel conducted diving operations at several identified locations.
Family members and villagers were also at the scene, closely following the search for Mohd Rayyan, who remained missing after bathing in the river with his friend, Luth Naiman Mohd Noraziron, 14.
Luth Naiman’s body was found by PPDA personnel at 9.10am yesterday, about 100 metres from the location where the two were last seen. — Bernama
