12 survivors, three dead in Lahad Datu water surge incident, say cops

KOTA KINABALU: Three people drowned while 12 others cheated death in a water surge incident at the Mak Sina valley in Sabah’s east coast Lahad Datu.

The three dead, two trekkers and a river trail guide, were part of a 15-member group that went on a river hiking excursion at Sungai Makuou in Tungku at 9am on Sunday (May 5).

It was initially reported that 17 people were involved in the incident, but the police established that only 15 went on the excursion.

The group comprised 11 local trekkers from an oil palm company, including three women, accompanied by four foreign guides.

They had gone to the valley dubbed the “Lost World of Mak Sina” by adventure seekers. It is located about 100km from Lahad Datu town and is known as a popular, scenic, but treacherous trail among trekkers.

Lahad Datu Asst Comm Dzulbaharin Ismail said the police were alerted of the incident through a Malaysian Emergency Rescue Services call at 8.30pm.

He said they were notified that 12 people were trapped on the other side of the river due to a sudden gush of water during the trek.

He said a police team was deployed and reached the location at 10.30pm, adding they then commenced search and rescue efforts together with firemen and personnel from the Civil Defence Force.

“Firemen had already rescued nine trekkers and three guides before they were sent for treatment at the Tungku clinic,” he told reporters on Monday (May 6).

According to their probe, ACP Dzulbaharin said the river hiking activity was not approved by the state Forestry Department or the fire department, adding that the Tungku police were also not notified of the excursion.

“The public is advised to always be careful whenever involved in such a challenging activity, to inform the police, and to obtain a green light from the authorities.

“In addition, the site of the incident is within the Silabukan forest reserve and entering such an area without prior approval is an offence,” he said.

ACP Dzulbaharin said it was believed the guides were not properly trained in river hiking.

Lahad Datu Fire and Rescue Department station chief Sumsoa Rashid said the search and rescue operation was called off on Monday after it was confirmed that only three people had died and no one else was missing in the incident.

“We called off the search efforts at 1pm today,” he said.