LANGKAWI: A total of 159 officers and personnel from rescue agencies participated in a search-and-rescue simulation exercise at the cable car service area here.
Langkawi police chief Assistant Commissioner Shariman Ashari today said the exercise, coordinated by the police, involved the Fire and Rescue Department and the Civil Defence Force.
The exercise also involved Sultanah Maliha Hospital, the airport Fire and Rescue Service, and the Langkawi health office.
"The simulation began at 9.35am when the police received a MERS 999 emergency call reporting that two gondolas, each carrying two female passengers, had come to an abrupt halt, while a male victim had fallen into the forested area below.
"The five victims were rescued by the agencies, which carried out the rescue operation at a height of 50m."
He said this at the end of the exercise at the foot of Gunung Machinchang.
Shariman added that two of the five victims were airlifted to Sultanah Maliha Hospital in an Agusta AW139 helicopter belonging to the Fire and Rescue Department, while the remaining were transported by ambulance.
"This exercise was organised again after the last one in 2019.
"It was aimed at boosting the authorities' ability to handle emergencies, as well as boosting people's confidence in the Langkawi SkyCab."