Lost hikers rescued after 16 hours

TANGKAK —  A group of hikers had to wait for more than 16 hours to be rescued after they went off trek and lost their way while climbing Bukit Blading in Malaysia.

The group of 13 people aged between 40 and 69 were found only with minor cuts at 12:50 am yesterday. The victims included seven females.

Tangkak Fire and Rescue station chief Bakarya Mohd Salleh said the hikers told rescuers that they began their trek at around 8am on Sunday.

“All of them, however, got lost while hiking. They began to panic and could not find their way out until it got dark.

“One of the victims managed to contact the Malaysia Emergency Respond System (MERS 999), and a search and rescue operation was launched,” he said when contacted here yesterday.

Bakarya said the department was notified at 5:57 pm and a team of 15 firemen and six police officers were deployed to the area to find the hikers.

“The hikers were found not far from where their last location was at Bukit Blading.”

Tangkak OCPD Supt Mohd Idris Samsuri confirmed the incident and said a report has been lodged over the matter.