KOTA TINGGI, Sept 2 — The body of one of four teenagers feared drowned at Tanjung Lompat Beach in Tanjung Balau was recovered this afternoon.
The victim, identified as Alif Taqiudin Kamal Hasrul Mohamad, was found by the search and rescue (SAR) team and members of the public at 1.25pm, approximately 800 metres from the location where he was last seen.
Kota Tinggi police chief Deputy Superintendent Mohd Syamsuri Mohamad confirmed that the body was identified by family members and has since been transported to Kota Tinggi Hospital.
“The SAR operation for the other three victims is still ongoing,” he told reporters today.
The tragedy unfolded at 7.45am this morning when a group of 15 teenagers, camping in conjunction with the school holidays, encountered distress in the water.
While six of them drowned, two 16-year-old students — identified as Mohamad Faqrul Islander Abdullah and Muhammad Afiq Ruzaini Mazlan — were successfully rescued. Four others remain missing.
Fire and Rescue Department operations commander Soleh Nasir noted that the rescue efforts have been severely hampered by strong undersea currents, rough beach conditions, and high winds.
“We are using the surface searching technique in this SAR operation,” he stated.
A massive coordination effort is currently underway, involving 30 personnel from the police, the Fire and Rescue Department, marine police, and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA). They are being supported by the Tanjung Balau Fishermen's Association and local sailors.
