ALOR GAJAH: The search and rescue (SAR) operation for Mokhtar Othman, a 61-year-old man feared drowned after reportedly falling into Sungai Pengkalan here earlier today, is being extended into the night despite having exceeded 10 hours.
The Melaka Zone 2 Fire and Rescue Department (JBPM) chief, Fire Superintendent Tc Zulkhairani Ramli, said that efforts to locate the victim are being intensified, though no new leads have been discovered at the location thus far.
However, he added that tonight's operation would focus on searching along the riverbank and on the surface of the water.
"A total of 37 fire personnel, including the Water Rescue Team (PPDA), have been deployed since the operation began this morning and continued into the late evening. Despite widening the search radius from two to five kilometres, no new clues have been found.
"We are employing several techniques to locate the victim feared drowned, including underwater searches within a 50-metre range of where the victim's sandals were discovered. Additionally, the K9 Unit has been mobilised to search an area extending up to 100 metres.
"Surface water searches are also being conducted using boats, covering a radius of up to five kilometres, but so far, no leads have been uncovered," he said.
The elderly man is feared to have drowned after allegedly slipping into the Pengkalan River while on his way to buy food early this morning.
Mokhtar, who is also a factory manager, did not return home after leaving his residence in Machap at around 1.50am.
The fire department received an emergency call at 5.39am, reporting that a man was trapped in a public toilet at the Seri Sutera Recreational Park.
Following the call, two fire engines from the Alor Gajah and Ayer Keroh Fire Stations, along with 12 personnel, were dispatched to the scene. However, upon opening the toilet door, rescuers found no one inside.
A pair of sandals, believed to belong to the victim, was discovered on the riverbank, while his personal belongings remained in a car parked near the river.