SEREMBAN: Thirteen students from Universiti Teknologi Mara Seremban campus got lost while climbing Gunung Datuk in Rembau here today.
Rembau deputy police chief Superintendent Ibrahim Sharif said they consisted of seven male student and six female students aged between 20 and 23 years old.
The Sports Science students started climbing the mountain at 7.30am.
He said preliminary investigation showed the students did not register at the Forestry Department Ranger office at the base of the mountain.
"After climbing for about four hours, they (students) had strayed from the track while climbing down the mountain and contacted the rangers at 2pm.
"They informed that they could not find the trail and asked for help," said Ibrahim when met at the foot of the mountain here today.
He said after being informed by the forest ranger at about 3pm, police contacted the Fire and Rescue Department to assist with the search operation.
"The lost students maintained constant contact with the authorities and informed they were safe and through this we were able to identify their position which was at the trail leading to Gunung Gagak," he said.
He said rescue operations were underway to bring all the students down safely.
"About 50 policemen as well as firemen, Civil Defence Department (JPAM) and villagers were split into two groups in the operation to find the students," he said.
Meanwhile, Rembau Fire Station operation chief Assistant Fire Superintendent Mohd Ridwan Abdul Rahman said the department received an emergency call at 5.13pm and arrived at the scene at 5.30pm to assist in the rescue effort.