BENTONG: Three people including a 6-year-old boy have been reported missing after being swept away by strong currents following a mud flood incident at a chalet near here yesterday.
Genting Highlands Fire and Rescue station chief Yusry Abdullah Sani said the trio were believed to have been swept away by a column of water (kepala air) which struck the river flowing within the chalet compound.
He said the incident was believed to have been triggered by heavy downpour in the area at about 10.40pm Saturday.
"Due to the cold weather and raging river water near the resort, all the victims choose to seek shelter outside the premises. They felt it was unsafe to be inside the chalet due to the bad weather conditions," said Yusry.
He said firemen from the Genting Highlands and Gombak Fire and Rescue stations along with the department's Special Tactical Operation Rescue Malaysia (Storm) unit were involved in the search and rescue operations.
"They managed to track down 32 victims including eight children by about 8.30am today but three people were reported missing," he said.
Yusry, who led the search and rescue operations along with 22 firemen and three tracker dogs said the search area has been expanded to about 300 metre radius from the affected chalet area.
He said the operations were suspended at 6.30pm today and will resume tomorrow.
It is learnt that the missing persons comprise a husband and wife who were the operators of the chalet.