SHAH ALAM: The six Fire and Rescue Department divers who were killed in a search and rescue (SAR) operation at the mining pool in Taman Putra Perdana, Puchong, yesterday, followed the standard operating procedure (SOP).
Its director-general Mohammad Hamdan Wahid said a preliminary investigation that was conducted immediately after the incident showed that the rescue team had adhered to the SOP and tactical strategy.
“Investigation showed that the scene is used as a flood gate and was not for recreational purposes. The SAR was launched at a waterfall area as the rescue team believed the victim was trappped there.
“It is believed that the tragedy happened when one of the rescuers slipped and others followed as they were doing human-chain sweeping,” he told reporters after attending the funeral prayers and sent-off ceremony at Section 15 fire station, here, today.
Hamdan said the department would review and improve the current SOP and tactical strategy to prevent a similar tragedy from happening again.
In the incident, the divers; Mohd Fatah Hashim, 34, Izatul Akma Wan Ibrahim, 32, Mazlan Omarbaki, 25, Yahya Ali, 24, Adnan Othman, 33, and Muhammad Hifdzul Malik Shaari, 25, were killed while looking for a teenage boy who fell into the mining pond.
Mohd Fatah, Izatul Akma, Mazlan and Yahya were from Klang station while Adnan and Muhammad Hifdzu were from Shah Alam station.
Hamdan pointed out that the rescuers did not dive during the SAR.
“Some questioned why we carried out diving operation when it’s already dark. In yesterday's case, they conducted surface water rescue as the mining pool is about chest-level deep, hence they were not equipped with scuba equipment.
“I have checked with their supervisor, they followed the SOP and tactical strategy to do surface water rescue, but because the environment was too challenging, it led to the events which happened yesterday,” he said.
Asked why the operation was not called off, he explained it was not as it involved a life rescue.
“When it’s an emergency and involved life, we will continue the SAR operation. We will only call off an operation if is a planned operation,” he explained.
Hamdan said the family members would get the compensation as stipulated under the regulations of civil servants.
“Fire and Rescue Department had a welfare fund (Kumpulan Wang Kebajikan Bomba), they will get the compensation. We will also assist the family members in other welfare needs,” he said, adding that this is the worst case in the history that involved firemen fatalities in the country.